'It's hard for him': Carlee is supporting her twin brother through a terrifying diagnosis

Carlee Clement's voice seems to light up with joy when she speaks about her twin brother Hayden.

"He's really funny. He's just so fun. And he gives me lots of hugs at school," the 12-year-old tells 9Honey Parenting. ?

And since her beloved brother was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age six, Carlee hasn't let that get in the way of ensuring they can take life on together.

"If he's too tired to do activities, we watch movies together and if he get's a bit cranky, we play games."

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Carlee, who lives in Nunawading in Victoria with her ?family, says she remembers the first time the family had to go to the hospital alongside Hayden.

"When he came back home he was in a wheelchair. And that really worried me," she recalls to 9Honey Parenting.

Her twin brother had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) with physical difficulties as a result of his tumour.

It was an incredibly stressful time for the family, though Carlee remembers doing her best to support her brother during the time.

?"I have lots of memories of him in hospital and bringing him Plushies and things. I love Plushies."

The duo loved to watch movies in the hospital cinema room to escape from the stressful situation and get their mind off things.

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?"One Christmas I remember watching Christmas Chronicles. It was sad because we couldn't travel anywhere during the holidays to meet relatives."

Now, six years following his diagnosis, Hayden is doing much better and his condition remains stable.

The 12-year-old had eye surgery last year to correct his double vision and continues to endure physical rehab to help with the effects of the tumour and ABI.

And the twins are still enjoying many activities together.?

"There is a park down the road and as many times as we can, we go down there. We kick the footy, throw the frisbee and ride our bikes."

Though Carlee understands that Hayden can't always keep up, and is very good at supporting him when needed.

"It's a bit hard for him to walk around all day, and sometimes we have to bring his wheelchair because he gets really tired."

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She and her older brother Riley, 16, each have their roles in helping Hayden on a day-to-day basis.

?"I remind him of important school events coming up. And at school I help him with his schoolwork and bring him medicine when he's sick," she tells 9Honey Parenting.

"Sometimes I give him massages on his ankles, because he gets a lot of joint pain."

Alongside this, Carlee also accompanies Hayden to appointments and distracts him when he is getting needles.

She tries her best to be there for him, knowing he is going through a tough time.

"Sometimes he doesn't feel very good about himself and he feels stressed. ?Half the size of his brain is not like everyone else's, you know."

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Carlee is like thousands of young Aussie carers part of the Young Carer Bursary which provides essential unpaid care to a family member or friend facing disability?.

The Carers Australia Initiative recently announced the creation of 1,592 grants nationwide, with each grant providing a young carer with up to $3,768 to assist them with the costs of education in the 2024 academic year.?

The grants created to ensure incredible kids and young adults like Carlee are supported while they support their loved ones. ?

"I try my best to make him feel better. And sometimes he just needs a good nap," she laughs. ?

"But even when he is tired, he still is happy. And he still tries to include himself in all the family activities."

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