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WHEN Caleb Scott was nine years old he and his family were rocked when a precautionary MRI discovered a four centimetre by four and a half centimetre medulloblastoma brain tumour.
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Two years on, Caleb is back at school, full of beans and capable of going up and down the stairs - a stark contrast to the challenges of being wheelchair-bound during bouts of radiation and chemotherapy.
He suffers from nerve damage in his face from the ordeal and sometimes needs his wheelchair over long distances; however he now has much to look forward to – including a holiday to Hamilton Island thanks to the Starlight Foundation.
Caleb’s mum, Suzanne Turpie, stepdad Rob Turpie and siblings Blake and Jae Turpie, and Dylan and Ashton Scott will all go to experience the adventure with him.
“We are going to go deep sea fishing and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef,” Caleb said.
“I’m back at school. Everyone is supporting me at school, pushing my wheelchair when I’m tired and stuff like that. I’m happy to be doing what I was doing before I got sick.
“I never thought I’d stay in a wheelchair. I always thought I would play sport and ride my bike again.”
He loves to ride, swim, play soccer and recently enrolled in karate.
Mrs Turpie was thankful to the Hastings community for their help and support over the past two years.
“To the community, we’d like to say a massive thank you to them all,” she said.
“In those first few early months when we didn’t know what way was up and down, the support they provided meant a lot.”
As Caleb continues remission he could not be doing any better.
“He’s finished active treatment and we go for a check up in Sydney every three months. Every scan, every test has come back all clear which is really positive news,” Mrs Turpie said.
“We’re yet to see him plateau with any movement, which is great. He just continues to improve. He’s doing so well.
“He is in hydrotherapy, occupational therapy and he is going ahead in leaps and bounds.”
Caleb will have check ups every three months until March, when that expands to six months.
Mrs Turpie said they will also embark on surgery to correct paralysis on the right hand side of his face.
Matt Attard
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
