❤️ James’s Story

In July 2024, my husband James was diagnosed with late-stage gastric cancer (Signet ri

ng-cell adenocarcinoma), a devastating blow that came just as I was 28 weeks pregnant with our first child, Amelia. Only weeks earlier, I had lost my beloved grandmother to cancer. The timing was heartbreaking.

James’s diagnosis revealed not only a rare form of cancer but also a rare genetic condition that made full-strength chemotherapy potentially fatal. Despite this, he began treatment immediately, determined to fight for his future and our growing family.

In December 2024, I gave birth to Amelia with James at my side.

Less than a month later, James underwent a full gastrectomy and lower oesophageal removal in an attempt to surgically remove the 12cm tumour at the top of his stomach.

Tragically, the surgery revealed that the cancer had progressed aggressively despite the chemotherapy and was now circulating in his system.

While adapting to life with a newborn, James also had to learn to eat again — small, carefully prepared meals to accommodate the life-changing effects of surgery.

His oncologist then proposed a new combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen. James endured another six months of treatment, with CT scans every three months. We felt like we could finally take a breath and focus on being parents.

In November 2025, we were told that the cancer had returned, was inoperable and had spread to his drain scars, and there were no further standard options. This again felt and still feels like our world had been ripped apart.

Thanks to the persistence of his oncologist and a private consultant, James has been offered a place in a first-phase clinical trial at Oxford. Currently James's prognosis is bleak his Oncologist has said with the trial, he has more than a year, if it does not work it will be less.

This trial may extend his life — though it is not curative — and offers a glimmer of hope. If this trial does not work, there is another experimental option that would not be covered by the NHS, and we will potentially have to find the funds alone to try and save his life and our family's future.

What James’s Diagnosis Means

James’s cancer is medically complex:

• Stage IV gastric cancer — advanced and metastatic

• MMRp — lacks a genetic defect that some treatments target

• CLDN18.2-positive — may respond to cutting-edge therapies, but only through clinical trials

• PD-L1 CPS 11 — moderate potential for immunotherapy

• DPYD deficient — genetically sensitive to chemotherapy, requiring careful dosing

• Progressive disease after FLOT and CAPOX-pembrolizumab — despite strong treatment, the cancer continues to grow

In short: James’s cancer has resisted standard therapies. His best hope now lies in specialist care, clinical trials, and tailored treatments — many of which come with significant costs.

Why We’re Raising Funds

James has worked continuously throughout his treatment, apart from hospital stays and surgery recovery. His company has been outstanding in their support, but as James grows less strong and prepares for the trial, our fear is he may not be able to maintain the same work pace. We have spent the little spare income we had on treatment-related costs and now face the added stress of financial uncertainty.

Any support received will help cover:

• Specialist consultations, treatment

• Travel and accommodation for hospital visits

• Home care and recovery support

• Supplementary and integrative therapies

• Living expenses if work becomes impossible

• Most importantly, it will help to access a new treatment not available on the NHS that could help James win the battle.

Conversations we never thought we would need to have, we have had. Hypotheticals you think of when bringing another life into this world are our reality.

Every donation — big or small — directly supports James’s fight for more time, more treatment options, and more hope.

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How You Can Help

1. Donate if you’re able

2. Share this page widely

3. Send a message of support

Your kindness will make a real difference in his life.

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Hope

We have not given up hope. Where there is life, there is hope — hope for a new treatment, hope for time, hope for healing.

Our prayer is for James to win this battle, taking each day, week, and month as a victory. Thank you for being part of that hope.