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MEMORY WALL
Charlie Teo Foundation honours all those incredibly brave people, both young and old, who have fought the fight against brain cancer and whose legacy lives on.
We pay tribute to just a few courageous warriors and ask you to support their legacy by donating to brain cancer research.
Read their stories below listed alphabetically by first name.
In Loving Memory of
Ben McCracken
In Loving memory of Ben McCracken
It has been five years and I remember you, just like I do every day. You left such an indelible mark here, that could never be erased by any passage of time. Forever 27, just a kid who took all of the challenges life gave him and somehow found a way to make the most of it with a smile anyway.
There will never be adequate words to express the sadness I feel that the life you loved and wanted to live was taken from you, cut short right at the start of a life full of opportunity and hope, and for the pain and suffering you bravely had to endure.
Love the people you have, with everything you have, for every day that you can have them. Because even when you have years of knowing your days are numbered, no number of days will ever be enough.
So here’s to you Ben, and all the amazing memories. Always loved, always missed, never forgotten. If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.
Love Maddy x
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In Loving memory of Derek Kerry
Derek was just 32 when he died after a tremendous battle with brain cancer in 2013. He left behind his wife and three children, along with his extended family and many friends.
Derek lived in rural NSW all his life and had a passion for science especially all that related to the animal kingdom. As a 16-year-old, he bought a small python into the home and hid it in his bedroom wardrobe much to my horror!
Derek excelled at sport and became a well known and loved high school teacher in the local community. He was a loving and devoted father of three beautiful children, my grandchildren, and a dedicated son, a fun-loving older brother and a friend to so many.
I believe Derek’s personal struggle with rural access to health care let him and us as his family down. He had to travel long distances for the required scans and treatment. Locally, there was a lack of knowledge about the complexities of brain cancer. I believe this resulted in missing the early identification and proper treatment of Derek’s brain cancer as well as the subsequent identification of an infection that ultimately resulted in his untimely death.
A mother’s love for her child is one of the unbreakable bonds and I was willing to try anything to help him. We were fortunate enough to meet Prof. Charlie Teo and he offered us hope when no one else would.
Research into brain cancer is so important as it may mean that the next person with Derek’s diagnosis will have a better chance especially with such people as Professor Teo, paving the way and demanding exploration of the science into finding a cure.
Sincerely,
Suzanne
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In Loving Memory of
Dom Amalfi
In Loving memory of Dom Amalfi
Our angel and darling forever Dom #foreverinourhearts (1976 – 2010)
“To my mate Dad, you are a man of a few words and a million actions. I look up to you so much. I wish I could one day be half the man you are”. (Domenic Amalfi, 2006).
“To my mate Dad, you are a man of a few words and a million actions. I look up to you so much. I wish I could one day be half the man you are”. (Domenic Amalfi, 2006).
These were the very words Dom said to his dearest dad on our wedding day in 2006. These are the very words we tribute to him today and always.
Dom’s courageous journey begun when he was first diagnosed with a low-grade benign brain tumour in 2004 at the age of 28. At the time we were a young couple very much in love with an amazing life to look forward to. Enjoying life’s simple pleasures with our dearest family and friends, Domenic worked in building/construction and I had just graduated from University. We both shared the same dreams to get engaged, married, and settle down with a house full of children, endless family gatherings and creating beautiful memories.
Fortunately, after the operation, Domenic’s good news from Charlie “you are one of the lucky ones” gave us so much to look forward to and we got on with our lives as normal. We got engaged not long after and in 2006 we married in St. Marys Cathedral Sydney. 
Sadly not long after we got married, Domenic endured another operation due to a recurrence. From endless seizures and the unknown we were lucky again to have received good news from Charlie, although not long after, Dom’s seizures started to become very regular. Having to always put work aside, not being able to drive and so much more, Dom was one of the most strongest, selfless humans I’d ever known. Throughout all the physical challenges he had to live with, he never complained once. Always with a smile on his face and lifting us all up.
In January 2009, Dom and I became first time parents to our baby boy Domenic Jr. Baby Domenic was the joy of our world, Dom was an amazing Dad and loved every minute he spent with his boy. 
Sadly in May 2010 Dom took another turn and fought a fight for 6 months in hospital, sadly we lost Dom on the 3rd November 2010. Life was never the same and our whole world collapsed. Dom’s strength, courage and determination was like no other. No matter what he was faced with, he always lived every day to the fullest. Whenever we would tear up seeing him having to go through what he went through, he would say “Come on, don’t be sad, crying is for sad movies”. Followed by “Let’s go for a drive and grab a pizza”.
His love for us, our son, parents, siblings, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends was immeasurable. There are just no words. Dom was loved by everyone and anyone that was fortunate to know him.
This year, we held an intimate memorial for Domenic to honour his 10 year anniversary. Our immediate family gathered together to remember Dom at his place of rest. With a heart shaped wreath of soccer balls, with prayers and blessings and blue and yellow balloons to commemorate Dom’s love for the Parramatta Eels.
Although Domenic Jr was only 22 months when Dom passed away, he has developed his own connection with his dad, especially through family and friends. He loves hearing the stories they share with him when his dad was younger. He loves asking questions, learning more about his Dad and I’m sure as he gets older he will want to know more and more each day.
We miss Dom every single day. Every milestone, family event and celebrations, we feel his missing greatly. Dom’s presence is always with us. His love is stronger than his passing. Loved immensely and respected by everyone he knew, he made us all feel so special and still does today. This will never die. Nor will Brain Cancer ever take his love away from us.
No matter the day, month or year…every day we have hope and faith in our hearts that one day we will meet Dom and our team of angels at the doorway of heaven. There are no words that could ever match the unconditional love that Domenic gave to everyone, and who ever came across Dom was so fortunately touched by him.
Dom’s light, aura and smile still shine ever so bright and he will always and eternally live in our hearts. Lover of Bob Marley tunes, family gatherings and a crazy soccer fan, we were so ‘truly blessed’ to have felt and known a love like no other. A love as magical, genuine and authentic as ‘Domenic Amalfi’. A name, soul and a true man of honour that will be celebrated and dearly missed for life. We love you Dom. No matter the number…we will forever wave your flag to ‘infinity and beyond’.
Love you forever, Liz xo
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In Loving Memory of
Nathan Abussi
In Loving memory of Nathan Abussi
On September 1st, 2008, 20 days after he turned 20 our eldest son Nathan had a seizure and his life and ours changed forever.
We received a phone call from a member of staff at the university Nathan attended to say Nathan had had some type of episode and the ambulance was taking him to hospital. He was our healthy child, he rarely ever got a cold, but that all changed that day.
After many hours we were told that there was no neurosurgeon at the hospital we were in and we would have to go to another. As we were in the centre of Brisbane we were at a loss as to why this would be. After a long night with no answers, we were sent back to the original hospital to get a diagnosis. We were told that Nathan had a mass in his brain and would have to be operated on to remove it and to see what type of mass it was.
The following week Nathan had his first of four brain surgeries. The doctor could not remove it all. We were told it was an Oligodendroglioma. We were also told not to worry as you can live with this type of mass for many years, decades even and that they’d just keep an eye on it.
So we kept an eye on it with scans and follow up visits. It grew a bit so the surgeon went in again. Again, he could not remove it all. By this point the surgeon kept telling us that all was fine. But Nathan’s seizures were becoming more common despite the medications.
We had to do something so I asked Nathan if he would like to go and see a different surgeon, a fellow named Charlie Teo. That turned out to be the best decision we made.
The first time we met with Charlie he spoke directly to Nathan, which was a first. He told us that there are two types of tumours, one is benign and one is malignant. He said that benign might kill you or it might not and a malignant would almost certainly end Nathan’s life.
Then he said “I can get it out if you want me to”. Nathan said “Just get it out of my head!”
Charlie was able to remove all visible signs of the tumour which was great but it was found to be a Glioblastoma, a GBM, malignant and most likely fatal. That was late January 2010. Nathan asked me to take the call with the results which happened to come while I was grocery shopping while Nathan’s brother Nick stayed with him. I was standing in Woolworths being told my eldest son was likely to only have a year left to live. I’m not sure how I got home. And I will never forget having to tell Nathan. It’s not something a mother should ever have to tell her child. Nathan decided that day that he was going to be the one that survived.
Nathan then endured rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. When he lost his hair his brother Nick shaved his head to support him. The radiation was absolutely horrible. Nathan was so burnt they had to stop treatment before the completion. It was awful but Nathan kept positive.
Through all of this, Nathan had managed to complete university and graduate with second class honours with a brain tumour in his head.
The time that Charlie had given Nathan by removing the tumour he spent travelling, working, making the most of life. Scans showed no regrowth and as time went on we started to hope that maybe Nathan was going to be the one who beat this horrible disease.
Then on September 1st, three years after Nathan’s first seizure, Nathan was not well so we made an appointment to see his neurologist. When I described what was going on with Nathan he immediately organised an MRI. Nathan had only had his scheduled MRI 7 weeks before which was clear. This MRI showed a tumour the size of an orange. It was back and growing fast.
So it was down to Sydney to see Charlie as Nathan still wanted to fight. Charlie removed all visible signs of the tumour but there were some deficits this time.
The day after we got back from Sydney Nathan fell very ill. He was not very lucid and was vomiting. We went back to the hospital in Brisbane where scans revealed a blood clot in his brain. More days were spent in hospital and it was after that that Nathan told me he never wanted to go to hospital again.
Nathan was put back on chemo as well as needles every day to stop another blood clot. Nathan hated it but never complained.
We had what was to be our last Christmas together quietly at home just the family. On New Year’s Day 2012 we were invited to go out on a friend’s boat. Nathan was so keen to go. We only went out on the bay, the weather was perfect, great food, great company. Then not long before we got back to shore Nathan had a seizure, different from the others. He was to have his scheduled MRI the next day. This scan was inconclusive.
Nathan went downhill very fast from here. It was decided to discontinue treatment in late January. We nursed him at home as per his request. On February 29th 2012 Nathan lost his battle with this horrible disease exactly 3 and a half years after his first seizure. He was just 23 years old.
Charlie Teo gave Nathan time and us time with him. But brain cancer still stole his life.
Nathan was extremely intelligent; he could read at 3 years old and gained an academic scholarship at high school and university. He had amazing recall of anything he read. He had a very warped sense of humour. He was a computer nerd who wanted to work for Apple and change the world with his ideas.
He loved to travel and had already saved a deposit for his own home. He loved his family and was hoping to find a girl to share his life with. He gave the best hugs. He fought hard and never once complained but brain cancer won. Nathan did not get to contribute to the world. He did not get to follow his dreams.
We need to find a cure. We need to stop losing our sons, our daughters, our husbands, our wives, our parents and our friends to this horrible disease.
Love Kathy and Tony Abussi (parents)
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In Loving Memory of
Penny Wynne
In Loving memory of Penny Wynne
It now over 2 years since Penny (Penelope) became an Angel.
2018 started the same way as most families, with family and friends celebrating with champagne.
It was March when things started not to be normal for Penny. She complained about pain in the left side of her body and over the weeks she gradually started to lose movement, had trouble walking and losing her grip. We tried everything conventional and alternative, thinking it was muscular or a pinched nerve but nothing showed up or worked. Penny was deteriorating more each passing day, to the point where she could hardly walk. That is when the GP suggested that she goes to Emergency Department in our regional hospital.
Within 15 minutes of arriving they sent Penny in for a CT scan of her brain. I will never forget that day, 9 April 2018, the emergency doctor informed us the result of the scan, a possible tumour in the brain. We were gobsmacked and could not understand how this could be possible. Penny lived an organic, healthy and very nature loving lifestyle. She was a very healthy 51 year old with no health issues until now. We asked the doctor how this could happen and the doctor said that it is bad luck and we just don’t know why.
That night I had to tell our children that their mother possibly had brain cancer, one of the most painful things I have had to do. Our lives as we knew it would be changed forever.
We were transferred to another hospital and on 18 April, with high hopes, Penny was operated on. The official diagnosis was a Grade 3 Anaplastic Ependymoma, prognosis was 12 to 18 months, it was terminal.
Penny never regain any movement on her left side and started to lose movement on her right side. She became bedridden and was only able to talk. Penny was in hospital for 55 days until we were able to bring her home to a house full of rehab equipment. We cared for her around the clock as she deteriorated, despite trying everything imaginable. We made one last trip to hospital and then moved her into palliative care.
Penny passed away in the early hours of 4th September 2018, just under 5 months from being diagnosed. It only took this short time from being a fully functioning human to being dead. Penny left behind our four children, 26, 18, 16 and a 13 year old and me, her loving husband. She was cut down in the prime of her life, a person doing what she was good at, empowering women and changing the world around her.
Never take life for granted and never think it could not happen to you or someone you love, regardless of how many green smoothies you have.
Regards,
Charles
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