Chris… You’ve got this!!!! #beatitbrooksy
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UPDATE FROM KIRSTY - 21st August 2022
After having our dream wedding day 10 months previous, our lives were suddenly turned upside down on 16th June 2022.
Hearing the consultant say my husband Chris aged 36, has a brain tumour and surgery needed to be done as soon as possible, we were left heartbroken, a day hasn’t gone by where we haven’t had tears.
Chris underwent an awake craniotomy on 4th July 2022, we shortly after received the devastating news that he has a Grade 4 Astrocytoma, an incurable brain tumour.
The NHS have given him an extremely poor prognosis of 12-18 months with the standard of care treatment which Chris is currently going through. Unfortunately although the NHS have been amazing the standard of care treatment isn’t enough for this cruel disease, the tumour is extremely likely to return.
After hours of reading and extensive research carried out by myself and close friends, we have had consultations with two top Neuro-oncologist’s in America and London, they told us about a new innovative immunotherapy treatment at a clinic called Cegat in Germany.
Cegat make a personalised peptide cancer vaccine that have helped many other people with brain tumours. This works by using the DNA from Chris’s tumour to make the personalised vaccine, which is a powerful tool for boosting the immune system’s response to destroy the cancer cells.
The first process of blood work, paperwork and tumour transfer from Addenbrookes to Germany and tumour analysis takes 4 weeks. The Vaccine then takes 8 weeks to make.
Unfortunately this treatment comes at a cost, a cost of around £50,000 plus travel costs for regular trips to Germany and travel insurance. This is our only option to give Chris a second chance at life. We all want nothing more than Chris to have many more years and to see his beautiful girls grow up.
This is where we need your help. Any donation big or small is hugely appreciated to enable us to get to Germany and to pay for his treatment.
We have some amazing friends planning some fundraising events such as race nights, football matches and dart competitions. One of our friend’s is even looking to jump out of a plane! Keep an eye on the page for updates on these.
I would just like to say both Chris & I along with our families are extremely grateful for everyone’s kindness and generosity.
#beatitbrooksy
More information on the vaccine below:
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Hi all, I am writing on behalf of myself, James, Lee and our families. As most of you know sadly Chris was diagnosed with a brain tumour on Thursday 16th June. This has been a huge shock to all of us.
Kirsty & Chris have only recently got married and have 3 beautiful daughters who unfortunately this is going to have a huge affect on and will sadly change their lives as well.
On 4th July Chris will be undergoing surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible. He will then require chemotherapy/radiotherapy. This has left him now unable to drive for a year or longer and he will be unable to work after the surgery.
Both Chris and Kirsty are self employed this means they now have minimal income (Kirsty will still be trying to work as and when she can) but because of Chris’s surgery and the care he will need after the operation along with the numerous hospital appointments he will have to attend, Kirsty’s working hours will be very limited for the foreseeable future.
As a family we will do everything we can to support them financially and emotionally. However we have decided to try and help them even more by raising money to take the financial strain away from them so they can get through the next few months with minimal/no income.
We really hope you will be able to join us to raise money at the events we are going to be organising.
We hope to organise a golf day, football competition, darts tournaments and also some challenges along the way for the adults and children. We will be setting these up as events on facebook to keep everyone updated with event information.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kelly Elder
Organizer
Kirsty Austin
Beneficiary
