Stephen's Get Well Fund

Hey guys this is Sarah. My 26-year-old little brother Stephen just found out he has a brain tumor. It's still pretty early in the game here, so it's good we are on this early. The neurosurgeon Stephen met with said it was possible they may not get it all in surgery if that's the route Stephen chooses, and their literature says chemotherapy only has a 2% survival rate. 

So we need to brainstorm other options to help him:

A. Heal from the surgery if that's the route he chooses

B. Fight off any remaining tumor with something that hopefully has a higher rate of success than 2% 

There is additional medical care that may help, but it's not covered by healthcare. All that being said, I am trying to raise funds to get him some more opinions and additional medical care that will help him fight this.

Stephen is a sweet, kind, very goofy, Earth loving hippie.



He loves foraging for wild crafted medicine in the forest, getting his nephews outdoors and educating them on various plants and whittling wood. He refurbishes scrap lumber into useful items. He builds interesting things like outhouses, shower frames, wind chimes, and hats out of woven willow branches.




He makes amulets out of pine resin. He climbs trees. He saves injured birds, and snuggles goats.




He volunteered along with addictions counsellors and a medicine woman to help members of a First Nations community in Atlin, BC begin the much needed step of reconciliation for past and current trauma. He is forever trying to work with and help our mother Earth.




His future goals include further educating himself on medicinal plants and mushrooms and using that knowledge to create an eco-friendly agro-forestry business to help educate others on self-sustainability, resilience, and working with Nature. 




WHAT HE'S DOING SO FAR TO FIGHT THIS:

- Quit smoking,  eating processed, gmo, or non organic foods, etc.
- Following a diet Ketogenic Diet  that is free of sugar or high carbohydrate foods that turn to sugar in the body, since cancer loves sugar
- Intermittent Fasting.  so the body has more hours during the day to detox and heal. 
- Juicing lots  and eating tons of leafy greens  to help alkalinize and detox the body, since cancer loves a toxic, acidic environment
- Taking supplements that help remove toxins, fight cancer, and boost immunity. 
- Getting tons of rest
- Lots of prayer, meditation, and keeping a positive attitude since thoughts can affect your health 
- Exercising

I am asking for help to get additional medical treatment for him. Anything you can spare (even if it's only $1) will help him greatly. If you cannot spare any monetary amount, I ask that you please, instead, send your prayers and positive, healing thoughts his way. These help immensely as well! 

My brother is adorable and anyone who has had the opportunity to know him will tell you how much of a bright light he is in the world. Our family and friends love him to bits, so I sincerely thank you for your time in reading this, and for any positive vibes you can send his way. 



I will be posting regular updates here, and I have the more extended version of the story below. 

Love and Light
Sarah 

HERE IS THE EXTENDED STORY

Stephen ended up in emergency on January 8, 2018 after having several seizures. A CT scan indicated a lesion in the right parietal lobe. An MRI followed the next day, and doctors explained there was a 3.2cm tumor that they felt was low to mid grade. They measure severity of brain tumors in grades that range from 1 (low) to 4 (high). 

CT Scan:


MRI Scan:






He was then scheduled to see a neurosurgeon on January 24, 2018 who specializes in brain tumors to discuss the results. She said the type was a 'glioma' tumour, and she felt it was of a higher grade. This is her opinion; however, without a biopsy we cannot know for sure. She did not want to do a biopsy. We aren't 100% sure why.  She said they might not be able to get it all in the surgery, and it's possible it can grow back.

The Journal of Oncology reports that the long term survival rate for chemotherapy is only 2%.

After doing a TON of research over the last few weeks, Stephen has decided that whether or not he goes ahead with surgery, he will still need to do something to help him heal from that and also to fight off any remaining tumour. His current plan is as follows:

1. Continue following the protocol he is already doing at home as outlined above 
2. Hopefully begin intravenous Vitamin C treatments here in Edmonton. According to the National Cancer Institute, studies have shown that high doses of vitamin C can slow the growth and spread of cancer increasing length and likelihood of survival ($270-405/treatment - still researching this option)
3. Seek assistance from medical doctors and oncologists at the Hoxsey Biomedical Center or other treatment center of Stephen's choice (depending on funds). We are still researching this option, and welcome any suggestions. 

I am asking local people to donate items I can sell online to gather funds. I'm going through items in my house I don't need and selling them. 

Very long story short I am trying to raise $4500 total for his entire combined treatment of several high dose IV Vit C treatments and the advanced cancer therapy at a facility of Stephen's choice.  It may seem high but it's actually half the price of only one chemo treatment ($7-$10,00), so in the scheme of things this budget is pretty low. 

Thank you so much for your time, and for any help (including positive thoughts) you can send his way. 

Sarah xo