Father Leigh Chivers opens up about losing wife youngest son brain cancer

A father has opened up about the heart ache he endured after losing his wife and youngest son to different forms of brain cancer within just eight months of each other. 

Sara Chivers, 34, from Melbourne, passed away from an aggressive brain cancer in January. 

Her cancer had been in recession for eight years before she received the devastating news in March 2017 that she had three incurable tumors in her brain.

In a tragic blow, which doctors have described as lightning striking in the same place twice, her two-year-old son Alfie Chivers was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2017. He passed away in June.  

Father Leigh Chivers, 34, detailed the devastating loss of not only one, but two beloved relatives, in an emotional interview with ABC’s 7.30 on Tuesday night.  

 

Father Leigh Chivers (pictured), 34, spoke of how he felt after the devastating loss of not one but two beloved relatives

Leigh, an engineer, described how he struggled to focus beyond a week at a time and came to a point where he couldn't see a future (pictured with his wife and two sons)

Leigh, an engineer, described how he struggled to focus beyond a week at a time and came to a point where he couldn’t see a future (pictured with his wife and two sons)

Leigh, an engineer, described how he struggled to focus beyond a week at a time and came to a point where he couldn’t see a future.

‘I just hit a wall where I couldn’t see a future any more,’ he told 7.30. 

‘It makes you realise how precious the time you have with your family is, how precious the time with your children is, and how all our time is finite.’

Before she died, Sara wrote a heartfelt letter to Alfie and Hugh telling them she would be forever grateful for the time she had with them.

She spent her last months alive trying to raise awareness about brain cancer in a valiant effort to help find a cure for Alfie. 

Alfie, 2, (pictured) was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2017, and passed away in June this year

Alfie, 2, (pictured) was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2017, and passed away in June this year

Sara Chivers, 34, (pictured) spent her last months alive trying to raise awareness about brain cancer

Sara Chivers, 34, (pictured) spent her last months alive trying to raise awareness about brain cancer

Before she died, Sara wrote a heartfelt letter to Alfie and Hugh telling them she would be forever grateful for the time she had with them

Before she died, Sara wrote a heartfelt letter to Alfie and Hugh telling them she would be forever grateful for the time she had with them

Leigh said he fought to not let his overwhelmingly tragic circumstances take over his life, and with the help of his four-year-old son, Hugh, continues to work toward goals his wife had dreamed he would achieve.

As well as raising money for brain cancer awareness, Leigh has started training for the Hawaiian Ironman, a gruelling race consisting of a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a full 42km marathon swim, bike race and marathon.

It was always Sara’s dream for her husband to compete in the Hawaiian Ironman. When the race organisers heard Leigh’s story, they offered him an honorary spot. 

Leigh will compete in the race on October 13, in honour of his late wife and son.  

 

 

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