Dad struck down by brain tumour

Francis Carnahan and Grant Smedley visiting Peter in a Brisbane hospital with his newborn daughter Taiamai on May 1.

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LESS than a week after his second daughter Taiamai was born, Peter Pomare was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.

Three weeks later he was told he only had days to live.

After two surgeries to relieve pressure on his brain, Peter is holding on to his life as he recovers in a Brisbane hospital and every day he is getting stronger, says friend Francis Carnahan.

It has been a devastating five weeks for the 21-year-old Yeppoon man and his young family, as they spend each day by his bedside so he can see his children and family as much as possible.

Francis said Peter's partner Angie was gutted, but she had been extremely brave and strong.

“With a newborn baby she has to be strong. She is clinging on to the hope that some miracle will happen and he will survive,” she said.

“She said to me, ‘he is my soul mate and I need him'; he has so much to live for.”

Francis, who travelled to Brisbane for five days to see Peter, said he had promised Angie that when he was better they would get married, but Peter went downhill after his second operation.

His body was shutting down and doctors believed he only had a couple of hours to live, but he pulled through, and last Friday Peter and Angie were married in the hospital, and baby Taiamai was christened the following day.

“They wanted to do everything while he was strong enough. He is just really weak but he is hanging in there, he is happy and he is a fighter and he doesn't want to die,” she said.

Francis is a wildlife carer at Cooberrie Park, which will host a fundraising event on May 28, called Pete's Party, to help cover the costs of Peter's treatment. The day will feature full entry into the park with animal holding, face painting, a barbecue, liqueur tasting, raffles, auctions and live music into the evening.

Prizes have been donated by many local businesses.

“Peter was overwhelmed that he had so much support,” Francis said.