ABOUT BRETT

Brett was born on the 11th of October, 1978. He was a gorgeous baby boy who even at birth grabbed everyone’s heart. His doting parents and adoring sister always played a prominent role in his life.

Brett was a normal, healthy, fun-loving, young guy who as a youngster was always into the joys of life. As a toddler he was actively into ball games, and as he entered his teen years he took up sport with a vengeance. He loved sport, with his passion being soccer, a game in which he starred as a junior. This continued through high school and later played at grade level for Maccabi and eventually captained the team to a first class premiership. During the summer months he played cricket, again playing and captaining the first eleven for Cranbrook School. He enjoyed batting and wicket keeping during his high school years and his greatest achievement was scoring a century for his school. His passion for sport continued with golf, which he learnt as a junior and played enthusiastically with his Dad, forever trying to beat him - quite normal in a father/son relationship. Basketball was yet another passion and it seemed there were never enough hours during the daylight for Brett to actively participate in all the sports he so enjoyed and in which he excelled.

On his completion of high school Brett studied Real Estate and enjoyed managing properties, building up a large portfolio. Should anything need fixing on one of his properties Brett had "just the man" to fix it - he had amazing relationships with his property owners and also with the many and varied servicemen with whom he regarded as his mates.

Brett spent many hours at home always surrounded by family and friends. Always eager to spend time with his Mum in the kitchen they cooked up a storm ensuring there was always plenty of schnitzel and chicken wings to feed everyone at all times.

Brett was a keen traveller and spent a wonderful year abroad with his mates touring around Europe and South America, making friends wherever he went. The mischief he got up to was always popular dinner conversation and certainly a great laugh!

From the day Brett was born he thought he was here to have fun. A view he didn’t even feel a need to change in year 12, much to his parent’s annoyance. Brett loved a good time and loved to see everyone else having a good time. Brett had wonderful charm and charisma and he would smile whenever he entered a room - he had massive dimples so he thought he may as well use them to his advantage. He loved a good party, never missing out on any of the action - whether it be his charge for the microphone at Karaoke to sing a Ricky Martin classic or dancing with every girl in the room. It was during his late teens and early twenties that his attraction to beautiful girls became apparent and Brett was always surrounded by a bevy of beauty wherever he went.

His unabashed confidence manifested itself in all that he did including his professional career and he was never afraid to have high hopes. He told of all the things he was going to do - his desire to be in the property development game, of becoming an options and future’s trader with his father, and even wanting to do motivational speaking on the circuit.

His confidence is another reason why he was able to create such lasting friendships. He was never deterred from going up to anyone and just starting a conversation. This produced lasting friendships with schoolmates, sporting team mates and rivals, work colleagues, potential girlfriends as well as friendships with the various doctors and nurses who looked after him during his illness.

Many adjectives describe Brett and when reflecting on Brett's life these words and phrases come immediately to mind:

Athletic, Passionate, Always able to have a laugh at himself, Energetic, Dimples, Life of the Party, Spoilt, Ladies' Man, Charmer, Dreamer, Skipper, Lover, Friend, Cook, Entertainer, Trendy Dresser.

We don’t know exactly when, how or why Brett became ill. Medically Brett only had the regular childhood illnesses - measles, chickenpox, the odd cold or upset tummy or an occasional headache and usual teenage mood swings. He was a fit, intelligent, active young man with the world at his feet.

In April 2005 Brett noticed a lump on his neck. The Doctor at first diagnosed it as a skin problem/cyst and gave him some antibiotics. Two weeks later it had not disappeared and so the Doctor suggested an X-ray.

A Sarcoma Cancer, a rare and mysterious strand of the disease that has medical teams around the world puzzled was diagnosed. For some reason it is treatable in young children and mature adults, but not those aged in between. In the few cases known of Sarcoma within his age group, of young adults, all treatments in the past have failed. Brett passed away just two days shy of his 27th birthday.

Anyone who saw him during his treatment saw his courage and his strong will. Not only did he have strength, but not once during his treatment did he complain, he constantly thought of others and put them first. In the five months that Brett was ill, he endured what no young person should ever have to endure. Brett pulled through a thirteen hour operation, six weeks of intense radiation therapy (every single day) as well as four months of painful Chemotherapy. Brett was given the highest dose of Chemotherapy that any person could endure due to the severity and aggressiveness of his Cancer. He spent numerous days in hospital battling infections and trying with every bit of strength he had to fight this terrible disease. Brett remained positive every single day and even encouraged other Cancer patients that he met, to fight all the way. At no point in time did Brett believe his illness would take his life. That was just the amazing type of guy that he was!

Having read all this I am sure you will realise that Brett led a normal active life and during his 27 years touched the hearts of so many. He had unbelievable friends who supported him through "thick and thin". He had an amazing relationship with his parents, his sister and his nieces. Each of them held a special place in his heart and even though he led a hectic and busy lifestyle, he always had time for his family. Whether it be playing or watching sport with his dad, sipping a glass of wine on the balcony and having a chat about life with his mum, joking around and asking advice about his love life with his sister or acting like a crazy fun loving uncle with his two nieces.

None of us may really know the answer to the question of "WHY" this has happened, but one thing we do know is that having known Brett, we are all much better off.

By setting up The Brett Levien Sarcoma Cancer Foundation, we will hopefully be able to find a cure for this devastating disease and one day help to save the life of somebody’s son or daughter. The money raised from this Foundation goes to worthy young doctors who have dedicated their career towards finding a cure for Cancer.