Support for Aidan and family
Donation protected
On Christmas Eve, 2019, Aidan was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, with distant metastasis to the liver.
Aidan and Kieran have two young children (3 and 1). Aidan works for the family business (run by his parents-in-law-to-be). Kieran is a full-time stay at home mum.
Aidan's treatment plan is still being finalised but at this stage we are expecting fortnightly chemotherapy sessions as they try to shrink the tumours that are in his liver. The goal is to shrink these down so that they can be surgically removed, along with the cancer in his colon. Aidan cannot have this treatment in Woomera and will need to travel.
There are a lot of positives - Aidan is young and in good shape. This will allow the doctors to treat his tumours more aggressively. It was found by accident, and so earlier than it might otherwise have been if it had been found due to complications from the cancer. The tumours are encased in the organs and this makes them a good candidate for surgery, once the ones in his liver shrink down.
They are looking at a very long, challenging and strange year ahead. There will be ups and downs. One of the ups we already know about is Kieran and Aidan's decision to bring their wedding forward a couple of years and to officially become husband and wife in the next few months.
What are we trying to achieve?
Seeing someone you care about having to deal with a medical condition like this is a terrible feeling. You feel helpless to make a difference and are at the mercy of the waiting game – one that moves so fast your head spins one minute and then so slowly it's almost unbearable the next.
A few people have been approaching family to say that they would like to be able to help make this awful process little easier for Aidan and his family. I decided to put this together as a way for people to help make a difference and offer support to Aidan and his family during the year to come. I know it will make a difference and I know it will be appreciated.
The intention for this is to help offset the loss of income Aidan will be facing while he takes time from work for treatment and to allow the family to have one less worry on the table so they can all focus on Aidan getting well again.
Thank you.
Amber.
Aidan and Kieran have two young children (3 and 1). Aidan works for the family business (run by his parents-in-law-to-be). Kieran is a full-time stay at home mum.
Aidan's treatment plan is still being finalised but at this stage we are expecting fortnightly chemotherapy sessions as they try to shrink the tumours that are in his liver. The goal is to shrink these down so that they can be surgically removed, along with the cancer in his colon. Aidan cannot have this treatment in Woomera and will need to travel.
There are a lot of positives - Aidan is young and in good shape. This will allow the doctors to treat his tumours more aggressively. It was found by accident, and so earlier than it might otherwise have been if it had been found due to complications from the cancer. The tumours are encased in the organs and this makes them a good candidate for surgery, once the ones in his liver shrink down.
They are looking at a very long, challenging and strange year ahead. There will be ups and downs. One of the ups we already know about is Kieran and Aidan's decision to bring their wedding forward a couple of years and to officially become husband and wife in the next few months.
What are we trying to achieve?
Seeing someone you care about having to deal with a medical condition like this is a terrible feeling. You feel helpless to make a difference and are at the mercy of the waiting game – one that moves so fast your head spins one minute and then so slowly it's almost unbearable the next.
A few people have been approaching family to say that they would like to be able to help make this awful process little easier for Aidan and his family. I decided to put this together as a way for people to help make a difference and offer support to Aidan and his family during the year to come. I know it will make a difference and I know it will be appreciated.
The intention for this is to help offset the loss of income Aidan will be facing while he takes time from work for treatment and to allow the family to have one less worry on the table so they can all focus on Aidan getting well again.
Thank you.
Amber.
Organizer
Amber Berkelaar
Organizer
Reynella East, SA