Simon's Last Chance Brain Surgery
Donation protected
On September 11th 2015, I received the news that would change all of my family's life. My eldest brother Simon, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. It was a very scary time for us all as we didn't know the full effects of it or what it meant for Simon's future. After a few tests, we found out it was a Grade 4 tumour. Grade 4, called a glioblastoma multiforme, is very fast growing and the doctors didn't give a good prognosis.
Simon was given weeks to live, and a maximum 6 months. A year later he is still with us.
Many people live for less than a year with this tumour. Around 6 in 100 people (6%) survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Simon has already surpassed the odds, so perhaps the universe is telling us Simon is meant to stay for much longer yet.
Simon was engaged to the love of his life Sharron at the time of diagnosis. They are madly in love, and only finding each other later in their lives meant this news was even more crushing. The thought of having so little time left was heartbreaking. They were due to get married in March 2017, but with not knowing how long Simon had left to live, the only thing they did know is they wanted to spend the rest of their time together as man and wife.
They got married 2 months after initial diagnosis in front of so many friends and family during a very sad but beautiful ceremony, bringing the vow 'in sickness and in health' very much into reality.
The tumour being so close to his neurone functions meant the doctors were unable to operate. He underwent a series of chemotherapy treatment, but other than that, doctors couldn't offer many other remedies.
It has been a year and we are very happy that Simon is still here with us. The doctors were amazed he survived this long but he has done everything possible to extend his life. He's had one course of intense radiotherapy and chemo combined since another course of chemo which didn't work the second time.
Friends and family have been INCREDIBLE, showing so much support and experts in nutrition & alternative healing have all offered their expertise to help Simon in any way they can.
The above picture was our family at our fundraising rounders game in Roundhay Park Leeds on September 25th where we raised £761!!!
Time is ticking
Time is so precious now and no matter what happens, I want to help Simon and Sharron live a happy life together for as long as possible. Love is what we all want to feel each & every day and I truly believe that Simon's love for Sharron is what has kept him going for so long. He also has an immensity of love for his 2 children, James and Olivia who are 19 & 17 and his step children Callum & Matthew, 17 &22.
The tumour has recently grown in size, and has started to affect the left side of his body, meaning Simon's quality of life is starting to be affected. He is now on pcv chemo and a further course expected in a further six weeks which will make him very poorly so any funds we can raise will be to improve his quality of life whilst we are raising the full amount of money for his treatment.
What is the treatment?
But a glimmer of hope has been offered by a Harley Street surgeon for Brain surgery to remove the tumour and a course of Avastin injections which is used to treat this type of brain tumor and interferes with the growth of cancer cells in the body.
What will it cost?
The funding we need has now massively increased due to unforeseen surgery costs and post-surgery treatments.
The total figure is now looking to be £100,000, which includes 25k surgery & immediate aftercare. Surgery can extend Simon’s life, but the after care treatment of Avastin could save it! The tumour is growing tendrils, like tree roots, and the Avastin is designed to kill the cancerous blood muscles that grow from it. So after a year of Avastin he could be cancer free!
Simon has a date for surgery but we need to raise more money to pay for it upfront. This is by 7th October 2016. We are struggling for time, but I believe with everybody’s help, we can raise another £10,000 by then with donations and bids for our auction prizes.
Our sincere gratitude
This means so much to us as it could mean the tumour could be removed as Simon and Sharron have a chance at the life they once dreamed of having together and a foreseeable future with his children.
Words would not be able to express the depth of our gratitude should we raise the full amount needed for the surgery. But it will be shown every day in the loving kiss Simon can give Sharron when they wake up, in being able to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day and the many more experiences we can have all that haven't felt possible since diagnosis.
A millions waves of gratitude to anyone who can help us raise what we need. Please share and spread the word.
Thank you
Abi xx
Here is a picture of our family:
Simon was given weeks to live, and a maximum 6 months. A year later he is still with us.
Many people live for less than a year with this tumour. Around 6 in 100 people (6%) survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis. Simon has already surpassed the odds, so perhaps the universe is telling us Simon is meant to stay for much longer yet.
Simon was engaged to the love of his life Sharron at the time of diagnosis. They are madly in love, and only finding each other later in their lives meant this news was even more crushing. The thought of having so little time left was heartbreaking. They were due to get married in March 2017, but with not knowing how long Simon had left to live, the only thing they did know is they wanted to spend the rest of their time together as man and wife.
They got married 2 months after initial diagnosis in front of so many friends and family during a very sad but beautiful ceremony, bringing the vow 'in sickness and in health' very much into reality.
The tumour being so close to his neurone functions meant the doctors were unable to operate. He underwent a series of chemotherapy treatment, but other than that, doctors couldn't offer many other remedies.
It has been a year and we are very happy that Simon is still here with us. The doctors were amazed he survived this long but he has done everything possible to extend his life. He's had one course of intense radiotherapy and chemo combined since another course of chemo which didn't work the second time.
Friends and family have been INCREDIBLE, showing so much support and experts in nutrition & alternative healing have all offered their expertise to help Simon in any way they can.
The above picture was our family at our fundraising rounders game in Roundhay Park Leeds on September 25th where we raised £761!!!
Time is ticking
Time is so precious now and no matter what happens, I want to help Simon and Sharron live a happy life together for as long as possible. Love is what we all want to feel each & every day and I truly believe that Simon's love for Sharron is what has kept him going for so long. He also has an immensity of love for his 2 children, James and Olivia who are 19 & 17 and his step children Callum & Matthew, 17 &22.
The tumour has recently grown in size, and has started to affect the left side of his body, meaning Simon's quality of life is starting to be affected. He is now on pcv chemo and a further course expected in a further six weeks which will make him very poorly so any funds we can raise will be to improve his quality of life whilst we are raising the full amount of money for his treatment.
What is the treatment?
But a glimmer of hope has been offered by a Harley Street surgeon for Brain surgery to remove the tumour and a course of Avastin injections which is used to treat this type of brain tumor and interferes with the growth of cancer cells in the body.
What will it cost?
The funding we need has now massively increased due to unforeseen surgery costs and post-surgery treatments.
The total figure is now looking to be £100,000, which includes 25k surgery & immediate aftercare. Surgery can extend Simon’s life, but the after care treatment of Avastin could save it! The tumour is growing tendrils, like tree roots, and the Avastin is designed to kill the cancerous blood muscles that grow from it. So after a year of Avastin he could be cancer free!
Simon has a date for surgery but we need to raise more money to pay for it upfront. This is by 7th October 2016. We are struggling for time, but I believe with everybody’s help, we can raise another £10,000 by then with donations and bids for our auction prizes.
Our sincere gratitude
This means so much to us as it could mean the tumour could be removed as Simon and Sharron have a chance at the life they once dreamed of having together and a foreseeable future with his children.
Words would not be able to express the depth of our gratitude should we raise the full amount needed for the surgery. But it will be shown every day in the loving kiss Simon can give Sharron when they wake up, in being able to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day and the many more experiences we can have all that haven't felt possible since diagnosis.
A millions waves of gratitude to anyone who can help us raise what we need. Please share and spread the word.
Thank you
Abi xx
Here is a picture of our family:
Organizer
Abi Fox
Organizer
England
