Perth Mother's Poignant Tribute Moves Telethon 2026 Audience
Time seemed to stand still for Pamela and Brad Campbell when their vibrant, cheeky, and courageous son Callum passed away at just five years old in June 2021. After enduring 350 nights in hospital, numerous medical procedures, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, two devastating relapses, and clinging to hope wherever possible, their world abruptly shifted, and Callum was gone.
Pamela vividly recalls the heart-wrenching moment of packing up Callum's room at Perth Children's Hospital and returning home with Brad and their eldest son, Jackson. While the world continued to move forward, their lives had come to a halt, and they deeply felt the absence of the incredible medical team who had become like family during Callum's two-year fight against acute myeloid leukaemia.
A Powerful Speech at Telethon 2026
During a deeply moving speech at the 2026 Telethon Giving Celebration on Wednesday, Pamela described existing in a space that is often overlooked but remains profoundly significant. She explained that the inspiring stories of hope and survival were no longer their reality, as they grieved not only the loss of their child but also the entire support network that had surrounded them.
As the couple navigated the painful journey of living without one of their children, Pamela's thoughts turned to the many other families facing similar tragedies. She highlighted families affected by cancer, heart conditions, blood disorders, rare diseases, and more, emphasizing a shared desire for their children to be remembered and for families not to feel invisible in their grief.
Turning Pain into Purpose Through Poetry
Pamela has channeled her anguish into advocacy for these families. Late last year, when asked to share her experiences for a palliative care education session at Perth Children's Hospital, she wrote a poem that moved hundreds to tears when presented at the Giving Celebration. The poem eloquently captures how kindness, patience, and meeting families where they are can have a lasting impact as they learn to rebuild their lives after loss.
It poignantly notes that while medical staff might see it as another shift or another family, for parents, it represents their entire world. The poem urges others to remember and honor the names of lost children, saying their names aloud to keep their memories alive.
Finding Solace and Support in Community
Pamela shared that although it was incredibly challenging to put the emotion and trauma of losing Callum into words, sharing the poem and her family's story has helped her feel seen in her grief and less isolated. She also paid tribute to the dedicated staff at Perth Children's Hospital and the ongoing support from Telethon beneficiaries, including the Kids Cancer Support Group, the Starlight Foundation, Radio Lollipop, and Lionheart Camp for Kids.
Drawing from her lived experience, Pamela expressed big dreams for how families are supported from the beginning to the end and beyond. She urged the audience to maintain momentum, continue showing up for families, and create moments of light during the darkest times, whether for those just starting their journey, those in the midst of it, or those like hers who carry their child forward in a different way.
She concluded by emphasizing that together, the efforts at Telethon are not just about support but about fostering hope for all affected families.
