Arun Suri's Fight Against GBM Brain Cancer
Donation protected
It breaks our hearts to even talk about this and as a family, we really wish we didn't have to do this, but we are really lost with what to do right now. Here is our story as we humbly ask for any support possible.
Our lives changed forever two months ago. Our beloved father, Arun Suri, was initially taken to the hospital in September and was released after severe headaches and chest pains. We took our father back to the hospital in November 2019, where we thought he was experiencing a stroke. His memory was getting foggy, he was unable to stand, and he reported right side numbness in his arms and legs. After multiple tests and waiting for a few days for a neurosurgeon to speak to us, we were informed that our father had tumors in his brain. He was admitted to Royal Columbian Hospital and underwent surgery to have the 3.3 cm tumor removed. Our dad successfully had a craniotomy removing the largest tumor, measuring at 3.3 cm tumor, and was sent for a biopsy. There were still 3 tumors remaining that were not able to be removed. The biopsy results came back and were exactly what we were hoping they wouldn’t be, he was diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma Mutiforme (GBM), more specifically a rare subtype called Gliosarcoma (one of the most aggressive types of cancer). We were told that this is an aggressive growing Brain Cancer that has now spread into my father’s brain stem. https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/tumors/gliosarcoma. We were then told that 5-9% of the people diagnosed live 5+ years.
Arun Suri is an amazing father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend who deserves the best treatment to fight and win this war against GBM. He has been our rock and has always helped and supported us throughout our lives. Our father is a selfless man who has given so much to his family, friends, and the community. People that know my father know him for the kind and caring man that he is. Our father is such a positive person and someone that is willing to go out of his way to help others. He has touched the lives of hundreds of people with his kindness and gracious giving. Arun has done so much to give back to our community including having a non-profit organization that has held multiple fundraisers to raise money for amazing causes such as Surrey Memorial Hospital, BC Children’s Hospital, Burnaby Homeless Society, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Burnaby General hospital, and various other causes. He has also been the president of the Burnaby Multicultural Society that is a non-profit, charitable organization whose programs are focussed on youth groups, working or unemployed adults, and seniors. Programs and services include accommodation, transit, and housing information, ESL classes, job search, and resume skill-building, advice for seniors, translation, and information about immigration procedures. These are only some of the ways he has given back to the community. He goes out of his way to help everyone around him and always says yes to helping his loved ones. Arun has selflessly always put everyone first before himself, now that he is going through such a difficult time, we request that everyone that he has touched with his kindness and others that may not have had the opportunity to get to know this amazing man, to help and support him.
Our father’s resilience is truly amazing, and he is putting up a fight, however his recent radiation treatments have caused a severe deterioration in his capacity to function daily. We are doing the best we to support him however things have taken a turn for the worse.
Being a part of the Canadian medical system can have its ups and downs. Luckily, we were not paying out of pocket for his surgery and treatments, however, that does mean that we are limited to only the services approved and have to wait long extended periods of time. We were told by BC Cancer agency that he does not qualify for any local clinical trials, unfortunately. To make things worse, our father’s health has been declining quite rapidly. He is lost his mobility, speech, and memory. We have been provided with minimal support from Homecare support workers (an hour in the morning). This has been a very challenging time for our family. Arun’s family, especially his wife, son, and eldest daughter have had to take on the care-taking role as he cannot be left alone. He has had a few falls and now requires to be lifted and carried to move him. It has been absolutely heartbreaking to see our father’s health decline so quickly and see how much support he requires to carry out his day to day activities.
We have created this GoFundMe fundraiser because our father was the primary provider for the family so we would like to raise money for additional medical expenses, alternative treatments, and in-home care to make things easier for our dad. He has been amazing and is trying to be as tough as he can. We would like to ensure that his quality of life remains a priority as well fighting to make sure that we can access treatment and care to help him. Due to the limited treatments available in Canada, we have been seeking consults all over the world, including in the U.S. We are specifically looking Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Stanford Health Care, National Cancer Institute, The Issels Medical Canter, and C.H.I.P.S.A Therapy Hospital and Advanced Immunotherapy Center for Cancer (Mexico). There are additional treatments such as a medical device called Optune (it costs $21,000 a month) that prevents reoccurrence because GBM has been known to have a high probability of reoccurrence and has shown to be helpful for GBM, as well as vast array of clinical trials and studies that are available in other parts of the world.
We as a family have tried our best not to ask others for help outside of our family, but seeing our limited options of treatment and lack of optimism from our doctors, we have come to the point that we have no other options but to seek help from the community. Every little bit of help makes a difference and we thank you all so much for your love, prayers, and support.
Our family thanks you in advance for all of the help and keeping us in your prayers. Thank you for your help in sharing this with as many people as you can and encouraging them to forward this to their friends and loved ones as well. We honestly appreciate any form of help, and in addition, ask you to send your prayers and keep Arun in your thoughts. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generous and loving support for our family!
To learn more about this diagnosis please visit: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glioblastoma/cdc-20350148
Our lives changed forever two months ago. Our beloved father, Arun Suri, was initially taken to the hospital in September and was released after severe headaches and chest pains. We took our father back to the hospital in November 2019, where we thought he was experiencing a stroke. His memory was getting foggy, he was unable to stand, and he reported right side numbness in his arms and legs. After multiple tests and waiting for a few days for a neurosurgeon to speak to us, we were informed that our father had tumors in his brain. He was admitted to Royal Columbian Hospital and underwent surgery to have the 3.3 cm tumor removed. Our dad successfully had a craniotomy removing the largest tumor, measuring at 3.3 cm tumor, and was sent for a biopsy. There were still 3 tumors remaining that were not able to be removed. The biopsy results came back and were exactly what we were hoping they wouldn’t be, he was diagnosed with Grade IV Glioblastoma Mutiforme (GBM), more specifically a rare subtype called Gliosarcoma (one of the most aggressive types of cancer). We were told that this is an aggressive growing Brain Cancer that has now spread into my father’s brain stem. https://www.cancer.gov/rare-brain-spine-tumor/tumors/gliosarcoma. We were then told that 5-9% of the people diagnosed live 5+ years.
Arun Suri is an amazing father, husband, brother, uncle, and friend who deserves the best treatment to fight and win this war against GBM. He has been our rock and has always helped and supported us throughout our lives. Our father is a selfless man who has given so much to his family, friends, and the community. People that know my father know him for the kind and caring man that he is. Our father is such a positive person and someone that is willing to go out of his way to help others. He has touched the lives of hundreds of people with his kindness and gracious giving. Arun has done so much to give back to our community including having a non-profit organization that has held multiple fundraisers to raise money for amazing causes such as Surrey Memorial Hospital, BC Children’s Hospital, Burnaby Homeless Society, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Burnaby General hospital, and various other causes. He has also been the president of the Burnaby Multicultural Society that is a non-profit, charitable organization whose programs are focussed on youth groups, working or unemployed adults, and seniors. Programs and services include accommodation, transit, and housing information, ESL classes, job search, and resume skill-building, advice for seniors, translation, and information about immigration procedures. These are only some of the ways he has given back to the community. He goes out of his way to help everyone around him and always says yes to helping his loved ones. Arun has selflessly always put everyone first before himself, now that he is going through such a difficult time, we request that everyone that he has touched with his kindness and others that may not have had the opportunity to get to know this amazing man, to help and support him.
Our father’s resilience is truly amazing, and he is putting up a fight, however his recent radiation treatments have caused a severe deterioration in his capacity to function daily. We are doing the best we to support him however things have taken a turn for the worse.
Being a part of the Canadian medical system can have its ups and downs. Luckily, we were not paying out of pocket for his surgery and treatments, however, that does mean that we are limited to only the services approved and have to wait long extended periods of time. We were told by BC Cancer agency that he does not qualify for any local clinical trials, unfortunately. To make things worse, our father’s health has been declining quite rapidly. He is lost his mobility, speech, and memory. We have been provided with minimal support from Homecare support workers (an hour in the morning). This has been a very challenging time for our family. Arun’s family, especially his wife, son, and eldest daughter have had to take on the care-taking role as he cannot be left alone. He has had a few falls and now requires to be lifted and carried to move him. It has been absolutely heartbreaking to see our father’s health decline so quickly and see how much support he requires to carry out his day to day activities.
We have created this GoFundMe fundraiser because our father was the primary provider for the family so we would like to raise money for additional medical expenses, alternative treatments, and in-home care to make things easier for our dad. He has been amazing and is trying to be as tough as he can. We would like to ensure that his quality of life remains a priority as well fighting to make sure that we can access treatment and care to help him. Due to the limited treatments available in Canada, we have been seeking consults all over the world, including in the U.S. We are specifically looking Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Stanford Health Care, National Cancer Institute, The Issels Medical Canter, and C.H.I.P.S.A Therapy Hospital and Advanced Immunotherapy Center for Cancer (Mexico). There are additional treatments such as a medical device called Optune (it costs $21,000 a month) that prevents reoccurrence because GBM has been known to have a high probability of reoccurrence and has shown to be helpful for GBM, as well as vast array of clinical trials and studies that are available in other parts of the world.
We as a family have tried our best not to ask others for help outside of our family, but seeing our limited options of treatment and lack of optimism from our doctors, we have come to the point that we have no other options but to seek help from the community. Every little bit of help makes a difference and we thank you all so much for your love, prayers, and support.
Our family thanks you in advance for all of the help and keeping us in your prayers. Thank you for your help in sharing this with as many people as you can and encouraging them to forward this to their friends and loved ones as well. We honestly appreciate any form of help, and in addition, ask you to send your prayers and keep Arun in your thoughts. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generous and loving support for our family!
To learn more about this diagnosis please visit: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glioblastoma/cdc-20350148
Fundraising team: A.K.S. Team! (2)
Rishu S
Organizer
Burnaby, BC
Kapish Suri
Team member
