Baby Hugo’s brain tumour battle



Hi friends. We’re setting up this GoFundMe page for our beautiful friends, Brooke and Ollie, who are facing the unimaginable. Their precious baby boy, Hugo, was diagnosed with a brain tumour at just 13 weeks old.

In a routine check-up on September 14th, Hugo's newborn nurse discovered his head was growing rapidly and suspected hydrocephalus. A specialist confirmed their fears with a scan that indicated that the cerebrospinal fluid was caused by a mass on the brain.

Hugo was airlifted from Lismore Base Hospital to Queensland Children's Hospital, where an MRI uncovered a large tumour on his cerebellum. Since arriving in Brisbane, he has had a series of life-saving emergency operations to drain the fluid and relieve the pressure.

Like his parents, little Hugo is fighting this devastating diagnosis with a warrior spirit. He has been in and out of ICU and on and off a ventilator. When he is conscious, he is alert and taking refuge in his mum and dad's comforting arms, staring, as Ollie explained, "deep into their souls with the brightest of lights."

Brooke and Ollie now wait in limbo as a team of neurosurgeons, oncologists and pediatricians assemble to work out how to approach the tumour. The complexity is incomprehensible, leaving next steps currently unknown. The diagnosis is so rare that Queensland Children's Hospital only treats one case each year.

While so much is yet to be determined – next steps and possible outcomes – we know that the road ahead will be long and full of challenges. The family now calls Ronald McDonald House home, as Hugo is expected to undergo treatment across the next few months.

As Brooke and Ollie put all their focus and energy into healing Hugo, we ask for your support to take care of their beautiful little family. So many of you have been inquiring about what you can do to help; here are three simple actions that mean so much:

-- Please keep Hugo, Brooke and Ollie in your thoughts and prayers. Religion, spirituality, manifestation, meditation – it’s all welcomed.

-- Please consider donating to this GoFundMe page – the road ahead will be paved with challenges, so donations of all sizes are appreciated. The funds raised here will go towards helping Brooke and Ollie with medical bills and living expenses. Any donations not used will be donated to children's charities across Australia.

-- If you have any other means of/ideas for support, please reach out to Alice Nash via the 'contact' button below.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Let's get this lovely young family healthy and home to Lennox Head.

** Please see section below for updates on Hugo's diagnosis and treatment