In the weeks following their idyllic island wedding, Katie and James Vullo began sharing photographs of their day.

In every image they smiled because on that October day in 2010, anything and everything seemed possible.

Except, of course, what was to come.

Shortly after the young couple’s second wedding anniversary, James started suffering headaches, he struggled with his vision and found it difficult to comprehend words on a page.  

Initially, a migraine seemed the likely cause, but a scan of James’ brain revealed a tumour.

“I got a call from James to come straight to the doctor, but he wouldn’t tell me what was wrong until I got there,” Katie, 30, said.

“The doctor told us James had a brain tumour and that it was probably malignant. I’ll never forget the doctor saying ‘this is a life-changing day for both of you’.

“From that moment our normal life as we knew it was effectively over and we started on a terrifying journey from which we could not escape.

“We couldn’t believe it was actually happening, it was like a nightmare.”

Following the diagnosis, James underwent surgery to remove the tumour and, while the operation was deemed a success, the actual outcome could not have been worse.

The pathology revealed James had a grade 4 tumour (known as glioblastoma multiforme) – the most common and malignant form of brain cancer with the most dismal prognosis.

Ever positive, James and Katie vowed to fight on, and together they endured more treatment and more ­surgery.

James even finished his law degree, graduating with first class honours.

“It was one of his proudest moments and I could not have been prouder of him. He had found his true passion in law. He couldn’t stand injustice and wanted to use his skills to help people who couldn’t help ­themselves,” Katie, a former Maitland Mercury journalist, said.

Then, in May 2013, Katie became ­pregnant with their only child.

“It was exciting when we found out we were having a baby and it was great to have something positive to focus on, but it was also really sad for James because he knew he probably wouldn’t be around,” Katie said.

Six months later James was doing relatively well and celebrated his 30th birthday with family and friends, but by early August the tumour had returned.

This time the couple sought the help of maverick neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo. The surgery went well, however the tumour returned a month later.

An experimental drug, which had showed positive results overseas, also failed James.

“James was at the end of his life,” Katie said.

With all hope eluding them, the Vullo family followed James’ wishes and took him home.

“It was devastating beyond comprehension to watch him go through those final stages,” Katie said.

On November 7, 2013, James took his final breath.

“I said goodbye to my amazingly brave husband and best friend who I had loved for 11 years, knowing I would never see him again,” she said.

“He remained strong and dignified until the end and when he left us that day he had a little smile on his face, like all the weight he had been carrying had been lifted from his shoulders and he was finally peaceful and free.”

On January 14, 2014, less than three months after the death of her father, Abigail Jasmine Vullo was born.

“We picked a name out, for a boy and a girl, while James was still well and we  found out what we were ­having, but James was sick at that stage so I didn’t really know how much he knew, but I did get to tell him.

“We were hoping James and the baby would get a year or two together, but unfortunately he didn’t get to meet her at all.”

It’s now almost a year since James’ death and little Abigail serves as Katie’s daily yet joyful reminder of the young man cancer stole away.

“James and I had been together for 11 years and I miss him desperately. It’s an aching pain that will never go away, but I feel so grateful he left me with the gift of our daughter, who will always be a piece of him,” Katie said.

“James would have made a wonderful father if he had been given the chance. But I will make sure Abigail grows up knowing what an extraordinary man her father was and we will make him proud.”

During James’ final battle with cancer Katie connected  with Sarah Gallagher, a woman whose story paralleled her own.

“Our husbands both died at 30 of the same disease and we both have young daughters,” Katie said.

“So Sarah has been a great support for me and we’ve become very close.”

Two years before James’ death, Peter Gallagher also succumbed to brain cancer.

“Initially, we thought Pete had a middle ear infection,” Sarah, 33, said.

“But then he stumbled down a couple of stairs at my cousin’s house one day and came home from work with a splitting headache.”

Unlike James, Peter’s tumour was more manageable and, following surgery and chemotherapy, the cancer remained at bay.

“We were facing a five-year prognosis so we decided to start a family and I fell pregnant,” Sarah said.

“And we allowed ourselves to get lost in this growing baby.”

But on June 24, 2010, at 32 weeks gestation, Sarah and Peter’s baby boy Darcy was stillborn.

A month after this tragedy Peter’s tumour returned, meaning more surgery and chemotherapy.

“I was so scared, but my biggest fear was Pete missing out on the one thing we both had dreamed about ...  parenthood,” Sarah said.

In July 2011, Sarah again fell pregnant while Peter’s tumour returned.

“This time the tumour upgraded itself to a four, but Pete wasn’t ready to give up, so we sought the help of Dr Charlie Teo. But he was up front with us and told us he couldn’t cure Pete, but he could see his baby born.”

On February 22, 2012, Sarah gave birth to Amelia Peter Darcy Gallagher. Eight weeks later and five days shy of his 31st birthday, Peter died.

“Pete showed great courage, bravery and strength in his fight against the disease. But you can’t 

forget what you’ve lost. I was with Pete for almost 15 years,” Sarah said.

Last year Sarah – a special needs teacher at Beresfield Public School – staged the first Walk4BrainCancer event in Newcastle to raise money for research into the disease.

This year, Katie and Abigail will be by her side.

 “Brain cancer is one of the most lethal of all cancers but is critically under-researched and under-funded,” Katie said. 

“We need to raise awareness and find more effective treatments for this devastatingly aggressive disease and we need to do it now.”

In 2010, 1680 brain cancers were diagnosed in Australia. In 2011, 1272 people died from brain cancer.

“Organising an event like this makes you feel like you are doing something positive and we just want 

to raise as much money as we can because the outcome for brain cancer hasn’t changed in 30 years ... it’s still a death sentence,” Katie said.

“We don’t want other people to go through what we’ve had to go through. Doing this isn’t going to bring James or Pete back, but we can try to help give people more time because, with this disease, there is just no hope.

“For people diagnosed with brain cancer, each moment of time is precious.”

- Walk4BrainCancer will be held on Sunday, October 26, from 10am until 2pm at Gardens Greyhound Race Track, 104 Sandgate Road, Birmingham Gardens. For more information contact Sarah Gallagher on 0416 150 991 or at Sarah_peter1@optusnet.com.au