Fighting Cancer for Tim

It has been 48 hours since the heartbreaking news reached us here in Brisbane. As I write this and sit at home, I think of my brother and his family in the Oncology ward, processing this diagnosis and life changes.

On Monday, our brother Tim, 29 years young was rushed to the ICU after struggling to breathe. Around 3 litres of fluid were drained from his chest, and after extensive testing, he was diagnosed with a rare and extremely aggressive Stage 4 cancer.

This cancer originated in his stomach and has since metastasised spreading through his abdominal cavity and now into the lining of his lungs. It is travelling through his blood and lymphatic system, attacking his body from the inside.

He is now in Stage 4, the final and most critical phase of this disease. The cancer has reached the pleura, the membrane surrounding his lungs, and is present in the fluid being drained from his chest.

But there is still hope.

While the cancer is trying to settle in his lungs, there are currently no tumours yet. This is the most significant and urgent opportunity we have:

If we can reverse the pleural stage now, we can stop this cancer from taking full hold of his lungs and give him the chance to receive one of the most advanced cancer treatments available HIPEC.

HIPEC is a powerful and highly targeted chemotherapy treatment that uses heated chemotherapy drugs to destroy free-floating microscopic cancer cells inside the abdominal cavity. It offers a real possibility for long-term survival even for patients with advanced cancer.

Without treatment, the average life expectancy for this cancer is 3-9 months. With basic care, around 11 months.

But with early intervention, private care, and advanced therapies like HIPEC, Tim’s chance of surviving 5+ years or more becomes very real.

Tim and his partner Alex live in Melbourne with their three young boys: Cortez (11), Kassius (7), and Evander (1). After years of dreaming, they had just opened their new business and were thriving until everything changed overnight.

This diagnosis has devastated our entire family.

We don’t have a large support network here in Brisbane. We’re doing everything we can, but the cost of treatment, travel, lost income, and specialist consults is far beyond what we can manage alone especially in the current cost-of-living crisis.

We are now waiting on biopsy results and searching for an oncologist who specialises in this rare and aggressive cancer so we can begin urgent, life-saving treatment.

Please understand the children do not know the full story. They are already crying every day for their dad. We are trying to protect them as much as we can right now. We ask that you don’t discuss this with your children or with them directly.

We are begging for support.

The public health system has already told us they will not pursue a cure or even try to reduce the cancer only to slow it down and “keep him comfortable.”

Would you accept that if this were your partner? Your brother? Your dad?

We won’t.

And that’s why we are asking desperately for your support.

To help us get Tim access to private care, advanced treatments, and the chance to reverse this final stage and move toward remission.

To help us make sure his voice is heard and his fight isn’t overlooked.

Every single donation, no matter the amount, will help the Isaako family beat cancer.

Every prayer and share of this message gives us strength.

Please help us fight for Tim.

Please help us save this family.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you & God Bless.