Tracey, Australia
Cancer turned my world upside down on the 17th October 2024 when I lost my 26 year old son Zach to Brain Cancer
Zach’s journey began on the 21st June 2019 - 6 weeks after he turned 21 he experienced a seizure in the carpark of his university where he was studying law
3 weeks later he was having his first awake craniotomy a tumour the size of a gold ball was directly in his motor path of his brain
It was classed as a Benign Grade 2 - Astrocytoma
He recovered and got on with life as any 21 year old would, yet in February 2022 he found himself having another awake craniotomy as it regrew - it was still a benign Grade 2 Astrocytoma
In September 2023 Zach experienced another seizure he was hospitalized and was told not to panic … and we will do another scan in December
It kept growing in December 2023 just prior to Christmas a biopsy was was scheduled for March 2024
Upon admission to hospital he had an MRI and was told the night before his surgery that his biopsy has been upgraded to a craniotomy as the tumour had grown aggressively since his last scan on February 2024
After his surgery Zach experienced many seizures whilst he was in hospital which delayed his recovery
A week later the pathology results came back and he was told
It is a Stage 4 - Glioblastoma
6 weeks of radiation began along with 3 rounds of oral chemotherapy
We went away for a family holiday where he was not well but he enjoyed our break;
3 days after returning home on the 15th September 2024
Zach was back in hospital and had another MRI where he was told there is nothing we can do the Cancer is everywhere we estimate you only have a few weeks, maybe a month if you are lucky. Sadly, our beautiful son, grandson, brother, nephew, cousin and friend passed away surrounded by his family and his closest friends at 5.55am on the 17th October 2024
Zach’s journey reminds us of how short life truly is
His quote below was the way he lived his life always striving to be better
Now, it’s our turn to keep his memory alive and help find a cure
Because no one should die of cancer or lose someone they love
“Don’t be sorry, BE BETTER!”
Zach Morrissey
Forever26
27.4.98 - 17.10.24
Forever our shining star 🌟