I am writing to you today on behalf of Damien and his family. As many of you may know, we have been family friends with Damien since 2013, Damien is 52yo family man from Brisbane and has 4 children the youngest being just 10yo. Damien has had the most awful run of luck since being diagnosed in 2014 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The treatment has sent him spiral of years of complications, including kidney failure and a kidney transplant.

Recently, Damien was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and unfortunately, traditional abdominal therapy holds risks to Damien's kidney transplant, which is in the way of traditional surgery or radiation. The risks include losing his kidney transplant, resulting in full-time dialysis for a minimum of 5 years before being eligible for a transplant, and being unable to access chemotherapy for future cancers that keep popping up. Moreover, a more complicated surgery with surgeons not being experienced with this type of complexity, long hospital stay, and permanent incontinence are the additional risks.

However, there is good news. Nanoknife surgery is available as an alternative option, which will not put his kidney transplant at risk, the surgery will be no more complicated than any other patient, with the incision no where near the kidney, day surgery, and less chance of incontinence. The only hurdle is that the surgery is not yet available in public hospitals, and we need to raise a significant amount of money to get access to it. We have about 5 months up our sleeves, and we need all the help we can get.

On top of that, Damien also got the call last week that the spot on his foot is another melanoma, and he will need surgery within the next month. The surgery will need a skin graft and may impact the important anatomy of his foot, which will require daily dressing changes from community nursing and other care. This may also impact how he is able to walk long term, and the overall costs for the melanoma surgery and the follow-up prostate surgeries will be over $33,000 and $3,000, respectively.

If you can donate, it would really help Damien and his family. We appreciate any support you can offer. This year is going to be challenging for Damien, his kids, and wife Pamela.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and we appreciate any help and support that you can offer.

Sincerely,

Kelly