What began as a regular Wednesday night for truck driver Chris Harmer has given way to two weeks of trauma and pain. But even through the worst of it, he remains positive.
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"I was just home from Melbourne, just relaxing and watching TV with my wife, I got up to go to bed so that I could go to work the next morning and I collapsed," the 51-year-old recalls.
Suffering what was thought to be a stroke, Mr Harmer was taken to Wagga Base Hospital for emergency CT scans.
"I couldn't believe how quickly it all happened, I'm so thankful to everyone who jumped into action to help me," he said.
Just over an hour later, he was informed that the episode he had suffered was not a stroke. It was a result of an aggressive tumour on his brain.
By the weekend, Mr Harmer had been airlifted via the Royal Flying Doctors to Sydney's St Vincent Hospital, and by the Monday morning, he was awaiting his first surgery.
"On Tuesday, after the surgery, I did another MRI and the doctors told me they'd found 50 per cent of the tumour still in my brain and they'd have to operate again the next morning," Mr Harmer said.
Following that second surgery, Mr Harmer was told he had a grade 4 glioblastoma brain tumour, and that it would be incurable.
"They said the best they could do was offer me intensive radiotherapy to slow its growth, but they won't be able to stop it," Mr Harmer said.
Over the next six weeks, Mr Harmer will begin the therapy in Sydney. If the tumour responds well, he might be afforded passage back to Wagga to continue treatment nearer to his home.
"Getting told that it was incurable was very upsetting, I immediately thought of my family. I just want to protect them and provide for them," he said.
Mr Harmer and wife Carol have three adult children - Lauren, Emily and Tom. But with the younger two children are currently in respite care as a result of their Phelan McDermid syndrome.
"We were blessed with these three children - they are angels in my life - and I just want to spend as much time with them as I can now," Mr Harmer said.
Shocked by the sudden diagnosis, his colleagues at Burkinshaw's Transport in Wagga have launched an online crowdfunder to help cover the costs of the family's medical bills and accommodation needs.
"It was extremely shocking to us all [at Burkinshaw's], we had seen him fit and healthy that day at work, and then to get a text message to say he's been taken to hospital, it was absolutely shocking," said colleague and crowdfunder organiser Melanie Burkinshaw.
Since the crowdfunder was launched last week, it has raised nearly $50,000.
"The donations that have come in have been mostly from those he's interacted with on the job. He's been with us for nine years and he's always getting so much praise from people," Ms Burkinshaw said.
"Chris was the family's main breadwinner, so we honestly just want to help the family and ensure they're all looked after.
"It's been amazing, we're blown away with the generosity, but it really shows we're not the only ones who think so highly of him."
Despite the dire situation, Mr Harmer has maintained his optimism, thanking those who have provided for his needs and saying he has felt humbled by the generosity.
He said it is his unshakable faith in Jesus Christ and the love of his family that is getting through each moment of his treatment.
Alongside his colleagues, much assistance has also been offered to the Harmer family from their friends at Wagga Baptist Church.
"Ever since we started going to the church, we have been welcomed. They have helped us so much over the years, and they are helping us so much now, I'm just so blessed," Mr Harmer said.
"Whatever happens, I have Jesus, I have my family and my friends and what more could you want? It's been a wonderful life and I'm going to make the most of every day I have for as long as I can."