Help Joseph's Fight to Live With Hope
Donation protected
Family and friends...lets not let friends fight cancer alone..
Joseph is a much loved Irish man, from a well known Irish family from the Northern Beaches, originally from County Cork, Ireland. He is a loved and admired by his fiancé Natasha and an amazing father to his boys, Finn, Luka and Ryan. Joseph is a very loyal friend to all who know him. He is a friend to all of us and he and Natasha both need your help to fight Joseph’s battle with Brain Cancer.
In 2015 Joseph was diagnosed with an astrocytoma glioma stage 2 (a type of brain tumour) on the motor pad of his brain. He had hours of surgery to remove the majority of the tumour, but was unfortunately left with no movement down his left side. He underwent intense rehabilitation and was able to regain the majority of his movement. He has approached his diagnosis with a courageous and positive attitude along with his innate ‘Irish fighting spirit” that he is known for. He was followed up with 3 monthly MRI scans.
In mid-2017 Joseph’s MRI scans indicated that there was a recurrence of the tumour. In September 2017 he began his 6 weeks of radiotherapy, with this being followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, Joseph was unable to continue with chemotherapy and after yet another MRI scan, doctors thought there was either further progression of the tumour; necrosis (death of tissue) from the radiotherapy or inflammation in the brain.
Joseph’s health deteriorated and he has began to present with concerning symptoms. On Tuesday the 16th August 2018, Joseph’ amazing surgeon at Chris O'Brien Life House, performed another craniotomy to gain a tissue sample to help determine what was presenting on the scans.
Joseph’s fighting spirit shone through again. His operation went well, his left side ‘woke up’ slowly and he left ICU onto a ward at the incredible Chris O’Brien Life House and could walk better than he had walked going into the surgery. Obviously, he was assisted with a cane. He thought he was on a new journey, a positive one…
However, sadly it turned out that the surgery was just the beginning of a new round of challenges that lay ahead.
On the 23rd August 2018, Joseph and Natasha received the devasting news of the results of the biopsy. The tumour had progressed and was now a Glioblastoma Grade 4 the most aggressive cancer that begins within the brain.
Joseph was moved to rehabilitation to regain his strength. The next treatment step was another standard care chemotherapy, Lomustine. With few standard of care options in Australia, the prognosis for GBM remains poor.
Unfortunately Joseph has had return hospital visits over the last six months, and has been battling several other health issues, which has prevented Joseph continuing on the chemotherapy, Lomustine. Determined not to give up easily, Joseph is looking at new treatment options, Nivolumab (Immunotherapy) that is currently only available as a 'self funded' option in Australia for GBM (Brain tumour)
The immunotherapy treatment is extremely expensive and this combined with everyday living expenses has placed a huge burden on Joseph, Natasha and the family. Both Joseph and Natasha ( who is now his fulltime carer as his mobility has deteriorated considerably) have been in Chris O'Brien Life House for the last two months.
We are asking for your assistance as Joseph faces his biggest battle yet. 100% of funds raised will go directly towards Joseph’s medical treatments, travel, rehabilitation and living expenses.
Please share this page so we can gather as much support for Joseph as possible in this time of need. He is a truly remarkable individual who continues to inspire those around him with his amazing strength and positive outlook on life.
"....one of the toughest yet gentle humans of this world. If anyone can beat this GBM...you can mate" - James Economides (Great mate)
Hope can mean the difference between hanging on and giving up... lets get together and give hope...
Sincerely
"Slainte"
......on behalf of Joseph and Natasha
Joseph is a much loved Irish man, from a well known Irish family from the Northern Beaches, originally from County Cork, Ireland. He is a loved and admired by his fiancé Natasha and an amazing father to his boys, Finn, Luka and Ryan. Joseph is a very loyal friend to all who know him. He is a friend to all of us and he and Natasha both need your help to fight Joseph’s battle with Brain Cancer.
In 2015 Joseph was diagnosed with an astrocytoma glioma stage 2 (a type of brain tumour) on the motor pad of his brain. He had hours of surgery to remove the majority of the tumour, but was unfortunately left with no movement down his left side. He underwent intense rehabilitation and was able to regain the majority of his movement. He has approached his diagnosis with a courageous and positive attitude along with his innate ‘Irish fighting spirit” that he is known for. He was followed up with 3 monthly MRI scans.
In mid-2017 Joseph’s MRI scans indicated that there was a recurrence of the tumour. In September 2017 he began his 6 weeks of radiotherapy, with this being followed by 6 months of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, Joseph was unable to continue with chemotherapy and after yet another MRI scan, doctors thought there was either further progression of the tumour; necrosis (death of tissue) from the radiotherapy or inflammation in the brain.
Joseph’s health deteriorated and he has began to present with concerning symptoms. On Tuesday the 16th August 2018, Joseph’ amazing surgeon at Chris O'Brien Life House, performed another craniotomy to gain a tissue sample to help determine what was presenting on the scans.
Joseph’s fighting spirit shone through again. His operation went well, his left side ‘woke up’ slowly and he left ICU onto a ward at the incredible Chris O’Brien Life House and could walk better than he had walked going into the surgery. Obviously, he was assisted with a cane. He thought he was on a new journey, a positive one…
However, sadly it turned out that the surgery was just the beginning of a new round of challenges that lay ahead.
On the 23rd August 2018, Joseph and Natasha received the devasting news of the results of the biopsy. The tumour had progressed and was now a Glioblastoma Grade 4 the most aggressive cancer that begins within the brain.
Joseph was moved to rehabilitation to regain his strength. The next treatment step was another standard care chemotherapy, Lomustine. With few standard of care options in Australia, the prognosis for GBM remains poor.
Unfortunately Joseph has had return hospital visits over the last six months, and has been battling several other health issues, which has prevented Joseph continuing on the chemotherapy, Lomustine. Determined not to give up easily, Joseph is looking at new treatment options, Nivolumab (Immunotherapy) that is currently only available as a 'self funded' option in Australia for GBM (Brain tumour)
The immunotherapy treatment is extremely expensive and this combined with everyday living expenses has placed a huge burden on Joseph, Natasha and the family. Both Joseph and Natasha ( who is now his fulltime carer as his mobility has deteriorated considerably) have been in Chris O'Brien Life House for the last two months.
We are asking for your assistance as Joseph faces his biggest battle yet. 100% of funds raised will go directly towards Joseph’s medical treatments, travel, rehabilitation and living expenses.
Please share this page so we can gather as much support for Joseph as possible in this time of need. He is a truly remarkable individual who continues to inspire those around him with his amazing strength and positive outlook on life.
"....one of the toughest yet gentle humans of this world. If anyone can beat this GBM...you can mate" - James Economides (Great mate)
Hope can mean the difference between hanging on and giving up... lets get together and give hope...
Sincerely
"Slainte"
......on behalf of Joseph and Natasha
Organizer and beneficiary
Deanne Stamopoulos
Organizer
Collaroy, NSW
Natasha Frize
Beneficiary