Kerrie O'Brien

My name is Kerrie O’Brien.

On August 28, 2018, I received a diagnosis that changed my life—an 8cm grade 4 astrocytoma in the right frontal lobe of my brain. Before this, I had visited three GPs, experiencing unusual smells and strange sensations in my head. Each time, I was reassured that it was nothing serious, possibly related to menopause. But later that year, while teaching a Year 6 class, I suffered a significant seizure. That led to a series of MRIs, and just four days later, I met my surgeon, Dr. Raymond Cook. The next day, I was advised to leave work.

The initial prognosis was daunting. I have three incredible sons—Sam, Will, and Thomas. At the time of my diagnosis, they were in Year 6, Year 10, and their HSC year, respectively. My husband, Matt, is a kind-hearted man who never hesitates to express his emotions.

“When times are tough, dare to be tougher.”

After my surgery, I was introduced to the extraordinary team at The Brain Cancer Group (TBCG)—Dr. Ray Cook, Associate Professor Helen Wheeler, Associate Professor Michael Back, and Nurse Practitioner Marina Kastelan. They have become like family to us.

Since then, I have completed eight months of radiation and oral chemotherapy and continue to thrive. My health is good, thanks to the remarkable work of TBCG and the advancements in treatment. I am back at work three days a week and still find joy in floating in the salt water at our beautiful beaches and playing competitive soccer with an amazing group of girls. I am incredibly grateful to my loving husband, my three sons, family, friends, the communities I live and work in, my students, and, of course, The Brain Cancer Group. Without their support, I would not have had the joy of watching my boys finish school and grow into fine young men.

I’m here today to share the reality of living with brain cancer. It’s not an easy journey, but it is one punctuated with hope, resilience, and so much love.

There have been tough times—moments when the pain felt unbearable—but through it all, I’ve stayed positive. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible strength of caregivers. They are the unsung heroes in this journey, and I couldn’t do this without them.

Living with brain cancer is mostly a mental battle—ninety percent of it, they say. But it’s also about doing the things that make you happy, even when they may seem impossible.

So, to all my fellow warriors out there, you are not alone. Stay real, stay positive, and keep fighting.

And to the caregivers—thank you for your unwavering love and support.

We’ll get through this together.