Erin McNaughts Heartfelt Update on Sons Health

Erin McNaught has revealed how her family has finally found hope after enduring the most traumatic year of their lives, following her toddler son's rare brain tumour diagnosis.

The former model, 44, opened up in a candid interview with Stellar magazine about the emotional toll of watching her youngest son Obi undergo life-saving brain surgery before celebrating a joyful new chapter with fiancé Stasi Kotaras.

The couple became engaged on Mother's Day in a touching family moment involving all three of McNaught's sons.

After opening presents, McNaught said Kotaras had one final surprise waiting.

'After I'd opened all the gifts, Stasi said 'Obi has one last gift for you',' she recalled.

The 19-month-old was dressed in an Adidas tracksuit before unzipping his jacket to reveal a T-shirt asking, 'Will you marry Daddy?'

McNaught said the proposal was especially meaningful because it included Obi as well as her older sons Evander, 11, and Ennio, eight, whom she shares with ex-husband, British musician Example, whose real name is Elliot Gleave.

The happy milestone came almost a year after the family was plunged into crisis when Obi was diagnosed with an atypical choroid plexus papilloma, an extremely rare brain tumour, at just seven months old.

McNaught admitted she has struggled with overwhelming guilt when reflecting on the early signs something was wrong.

'I just feel so, so guilty that he was in so much pain, and we didn't know,' she said.

She explained that Obi initially appeared happy before his condition rapidly deteriorated over the space of a week.

He stopped eating, became less mobile and began tilting his head, prompting doctors to order an urgent MRI scan.

The results revealed a large tumour, leading to emergency surgery after Obi's condition suddenly worsened due to dangerous swelling on the brain.

McNaught praised the medical staff who cared for her son, particularly one nurse whose quick thinking helped save his life before surgery could take place.

The Brisbane-based mother spent weeks sleeping at the hospital while Kotaras remained at home caring for their two older boys and trying to keep life as normal as possible for the family.

Now, one year later, McNaught says Obi has made a remarkable recovery and is developing like any other toddler.

'He's absolutely thriving,' she said.

She revealed he is reaching his developmental milestones and entertaining the family with his growing vocabulary, although regular MRI scans continue to bring understandable anxiety as doctors monitor whether the tumour returns.

Despite the uncertainty, McNaught said the experience has completely changed her outlook on life, with family now taking priority over work.

The ordeal also inspired the couple to publicly share Obi's story to help raise awareness of childhood brain cancer and encourage greater support for research and affected families.

McNaught noted that while Obi's tumour was exceptionally rare, brain cancer remains the leading disease-related cause of death among Australian children, making greater awareness and funding critically important.

Away from their health battle, McNaught also reflected on her successful co-parenting relationship with Gleave following their 2022 split.