Unstoppable spirit: 11-year-old defies rare brain tumour with passion for triathlon

Being left out is hard enough at a young age, but feeling different because of a health battle makes the challenge even harder to bear.

For one 11-year-old boy, this is a reality, feeling unseen among his peers at school.

Daniel Reupena, known to many as ‘Dman’, was diagnosed with a tumour called Craniopharyngioma on 28 February 2021.

Four years on, he says school can still be tough, especially on days when he’s unable to join in activities.

Although Dman doesn’t fully understand his condition, he feels its impact deeply, especially when he’s sidelined from the sports he loves most: Triathlon and Touch Rugby.

“It makes me feel left out. I’m really different and I’m not going to be able to join them because I’m not good enough,” Dman shares.

Daniel with his parents Jacqui, and Ray Reupena. Photo/Supplied

Despite the emotional weight he carries at times, the support of his parents, Jacqui and Ray, helps lift his spirits when the going gets tough.

In an interview with Pacific Huddle, Dman says that his father is always there to encourage him when he feels low. “He says, ‘It’s okay, you just need to keep training. One day, you’ll be able to join them again’.”

Craniopharyngioma is a rare type of noncancerous brain tumour that develops near the brain’s pituitary gland. Some of the side-effects Dman has experienced include changes in vision, fatigue, headaches, and, at times, seizures.

Daniel with his parents, sister Ellie, and grandpa Faolotoi Reupena Pogi. Photo/Supplied

Dman has undergone countless radiation appointments, including one earlier this July.

“I was very nauseous, having to go into radiation for six weeks straight.” However, he shares that there are a few upsides to being a regular patient. “When I sleep over at night, I feel nice, safe, and cosy.”

With recovery from radiation estimated at around two and a half weeks, Dman is required to stay home from school for the first few days, relying on his parents for support as he manages the side-effects.

“Sitting next to mum and dad and breathing through it because sometimes I get these funny breaths where my throat feels really yucky tasting,” he says.

The ‘funny breaths’ refer to his pre-vomiting sensations, which can last up to two minutes. According to his dad’s post on Facebook, Dman usually gets through them, but occasionally he will vomit.

Despite his health challenges and the difficulties of consistently participating in school and extracurricular activities, Dman refuses to let the tumour define his passions, especially his love for Triathlon.

Listen to Daniel Reupena's full interview below.

Drawing inspiration from his dad, Dman shares that it was his father who got him into Triathlon. “He had joined a triathlon group called Tri Nation, and I made some really good friends there, and then I started coming to training with them every Friday and Monday mornings,” he says.

As a participant in the Starlight Super Swim Foundation, which is a registered charity in Australia dedicated to brightening the lives of sick children and their families across the country, Dman has achieved remarkable things since joining in 2023.

This year, Dman and his dad swam 45.6km together and raised over $17,000. In 2024, they swam a total of 84.8km; and in 2023, 45.6km - where he began to feel unwell but was back in the water shortly after being discharged from the hospital.

While life for Dman and his family may never return to what they once knew as “normal,” his determination to push through his condition is a powerful story of resilience, a reminder that our own challenges can sometimes seem much smaller in comparison.