Brevard Community Rallies around Palm Bay Child Oakland Brooks Haber Diagnosed With Cancer
By Steve Wilson // September 4, 2026
Three-Year-Old Oakland Brooks Haber diagnosed with B-cell Leukemia
Oakland Brooks Haber was recently diagnosed with B-cell Leukemia. The Palm Bay child was just shy of his third birthday when diagnosed. A “SupportNow” account was created for the Habers to help ease the financial burden during this difficult time. To help support Oakland, CLICK HERE.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A Palm Bay family’s life was completely upended after their energetic young boy, Oakland Brooks Haber, was suddenly diagnosed with B-cell Leukemia just one week shy of his third birthday.
After recovering from a routine respiratory illness, Oakland began showing unusual symptoms that prompted his parents, Hannah and Eddie Haber, to consult their pediatrician and chiropractor.
Within days, Oakland grew lethargic, lost interest in playing, ran a low-grade fever, and suddenly struggled to walk.
His parents rushed him to a local emergency room, where initial blood tests revealed dangerously low levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Recognizing the severity of his condition, local emergency medical teams immediately transferred Oakland to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where he received crucial blood transfusions and underwent extensive monitoring. Scans also revealed that he had fluid around his heart and an enlarged spleen.
The Habers’ fears were confirmed the following afternoon when an oncologist delivered the formal diagnosis of B-cell Leukemia.
Instead of celebrating his third birthday at Candy Wonderland as planned, Oakland was admitted to begin a strenuous medical regimen, including a lumbar puncture, bone marrow biopsy, port placement, and his first rounds of chemotherapy.
Despite the grueling medical journey ahead, the Haber family has expressed profound gratitude for the wave of support lifting them up.
Oakland’s father shared that the young boy is already showing immense resilience, keeping a sweet and funny disposition and even making his hospital nurses laugh by using his IV lines as “Spider-Man web shooters.”
About the diagnosis, Eddie said, “There is a long journey ahead filled with many uncertainties, but we trust in our God and know His glory will be seen in all of this. He gets the final say over our baby, and only what He allows will happen.
A “SupportNow” account was created for the Habers to help ease the financial burden during this difficult time. To help support Oakland, CLICK HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia. He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.
Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey, Florida House District 32 Constituent of the Week 4/20/25.
Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.
He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 27 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.
The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.
