Help Albert Wilkes Fight Glioblastoma

Help Albert Fight Glioblastoma — And Bring Life-Saving Hope to Others

 

Our world changed forever on April 18, 2025, when my husband, Albert Wilkes, was diagnosed with glioblastoma — an aggressive, incurable form of brain cancer.

 

Telling our kids was gut-wrenching. I kept thinking back to just a few weeks earlier, when we were on the beach playing spike ball with AL-T (19), Preston (17), and Amber (14) — laughing in the sun and planning our next family adventure.

Just days later, Albert began experiencing severe headaches. Within three weeks, an emergency MRI revealed a tumor in his right frontal lobe.

 

After undergoing brain surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, Albert began standard treatment — radiation and chemotherapy.

 

But here’s what most people don’t know:

The standard of care for glioblastoma hasn’t changed significantly in decades. It offers only limited time — and almost no long-term survival.

 

We need more. Albert needs more.

 

A Breakthrough Treatment Abroad

 

We are now preparing to pursue a breakthrough treatment in Rheinfelden, Germany — a comprehensive immunotherapy-based program offering real hope for patients like Albert.

This integrative approach includes:

Oncolytic Virus Therapy – trains the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) – enhances treatment penetration and effectiveness

Metronomic Chemotherapy – minimizes immune suppression

Immunotherapy – using checkpoint inhibitors or cytokines to sustain immune activity

 

This multi-layered approach offers the hope we’ve been praying for. But it’s not yet available in the U.S. — and that is heartbreaking.

No family should have to leave their home or fundraise on this scale just to access treatment that could save a life.

 

We Are Also Exploring Compassionate Use in the U.S.

 

We are working with Albert’s care team to explore compassionate use, or expanded access — a pathway that allows patients with life-threatening illnesses like glioblastoma to access promising experimental treatments not yet approved by the FDA and not available in clinical trials.

If granted, it could mean Albert gets treatment here at home, without the burden of international travel — but there are still significant out-of-pocket medical and logistical costs, and time is not on our side.

 

Albert’s Fight Is Our Fight — And Yours Too

 

I’m not just asking for help for Albert. I’m asking for awareness.

Why must families like ours become medical researchers, caregivers, and fundraisers just to give our loved ones a chance?

Your support helps Albert — and helps amplify the urgent need for better, more accessible treatment for all glioblastoma patients.

 

How You Can Help

 

Albert’s treatment is expected to cost between $85,000 and $120,000, covering:

$54,700 – Oncolytic Virus & Metronomic Therapy

$18,700 – Photodynamic Therapy (3 sessions)

Checkpoint Inhibitor Option:

Yervoy (Ipilimumab): $29,400

Opdivo (Nivolumab): $12,880

Cytokine Therapy Option (if pursued instead):

Interferon (Rebif): $9,750

Interleukin-2: $8,850

Travel, lodging, and ongoing care costs not included

 

Whether you can give a little or a lot, we are deeply grateful.

If you can’t donate right now, please share this page. Every prayer, message, and act of kindness makes a difference.

 

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping us carry this fight — not just for Albert, but for every family battling glioblastoma, hoping for more time, more hope, and a real chance to live.

 

With gratitude and love,

Natasha, AL-T, Preston, and Amber Wilkes

For my husband, and our Dad, Albert Wilkes