A YOUNG Jimboomba girl is in good spirits after having life-saving brain surgery to remove a pineal cystic tumor.
Charli Berghauser, 9, has suffered from chronic headaches and blurry vision for years due to the tumor blocking cerebrospinal fluid to her brain. She was diagnosed with the tumor on August 2018.
Her symptoms disappeared after undergoing expensive surgery in Sydney on February 18 this year.
Ms Berghauser hopes to return to school in time for term two.
The former Jimboomba Thunder player also wants to make a return to rugby league.
Charli's mother, Kas Humphries, spent five months fundraising before reaching the $100,000 target for the medical procedure.
Ms Humphries said the surgery was all over in just one hour and 28 minutes.
"(Charli) coped a lot better than I ever would have coped," she said.
"The recovery time is a minimum of six weeks, but within 24 hours all of her symptoms were gone."
Ms Humphries said she was already noticing positive changes in Charli.
"She is a bit more particular in what she does," she said.
"I don't know how to word how I feel. I'm relieved that (the tumor) is gone."
The family will have a follow up appointment with Sydney-based surgeon Charlie Teo on April 9.
Ms Humphries thanked the community for their support during the family's difficult time.
