Symons Family Heartache: ‘We'll Miss Samuel Forever'

- 

Just 24 hours after her oldest son’s tragic death, Elly Symons wants the world to know about his remarkable achievements.

“Samuel overcame so many obstacles and was still able to lead a normal happy life despite having had cancer for 24 of 27 years,” reveals Elly, fighting back tears.

“He was stoic, determined and hilarious. Samuel went to university, travelled, worked and recently won a volunteer’s award from the Victorian Minister for Health for his cancer advocacy work. He was very proud of that.”

Brave and beautiful Samuel lost his battle against an aggressive glioma brain tumour just last week. His entire family, including his dad, TV and radio star Red Symons, were by his side. Samuel was first diagnosed with cancer at age four, when doctors found a brain tumour.

At the age of 11, he also fought off thyroid cancer, and when he was 26, he developed a new brain tumour called a glioblastoma multiforme.

LIVING HIS LIFE