Help Paul live as long as possible to see his daughter grow

Gemma has been my friend for 42 years and her husband, Paul, has been given just 12-24 months to live.

I'm truly heartbroken for them and their gorgeous little girl, Georgina, who turns 2 in July and will have to grow up without her dad.

Their lives changed on 20th December 2024 when Paul collapsed and had a seizure whilst visiting his Mum. He was later diagnosed with stage 4 neuro endocrine aggressive cancer and has suffered multiple seizures since.

There is no cure, but there is some hope to make his life as long and comfortable as possible under the circumstances and this is where you come in.

Paul desperately needs multiple cutting-edge approaches that are not available on the NHS, but have shown incredible promise for those suffering with brain tumours.

We want to do all we can to give Paul extended life, time with his family and be able to see Georgina grow. Every single minute and moment is so precious.

Literally anything you can spare will be greatly appreciated and, for those who have time, here's Paul's story in full.

Up until December 2024 Paul was just living a normal life. After being made redundant from his employer of over 35 years, post Covid in 2023 he had took the leap and decided to go self employed. As an electrician by trade and contracts manager he was enjoying building up a new client base and working under his own steam.

Following many years of working in and commuting to the Lake District, in May 2023 Paul and his wife Gemma’s dream became a final reality and they relocated to South Lakes to set up a new business and start a new chapter of their lives. This was made even more special by the fact that they were also expecting their first baby together.

The house they had bought needed a full renovation and updating and the business side needed a lot of work before this could start, but as always they were up for the challenge together carrying the majority of the works themselves with the kind help from close friends and family.

They were overjoyed to welcome their rainbow baby Georgina Constance in July 2023. New baby, new home and new business…things couldn’t get any better! By December works were underway and they were looking forward to some time out and their first family Christmas together…

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Then out of nowhere, on Wednesday 20 December 2024 Paul collapsed and had a seizure whilst visiting his Mum. He was taken to Preston hospital by Ambulance and admitted to AAU where he underwent several x-rays, scans and tests. Dr’s originally thought that he had a bleed to the brain but the following day the results from an MRI suggested that he had a lesion to the brain surrounded by swelling. On the Friday, the Drs advised that there were in fact three lesions in the temporal right lobe of Paul’s brain and that he would need to have further scans to establish whether there was a primary source elsewhere in his body. No Primary source could be located. Paul was referred to oncology and discussed as part of their MDT.

What was meant to be their first family Christmas together in their new home was in fact spent separated. Georgina was very well looked after and spent her first Christmas with her older brother and his family whist Gemma stayed at Paul's bed side night and day to support and look after him at this uncertain time.

Having spent Christmas in hospital and no nearer to a definitive diagnosis and an operation being suggested, Paul made the decision on the 27 December to self discharge and to spend time with family.

Just over a week later, in order to establish diagnosis and guide further treatment Paul underwent a Craniotomy on the 4 January 2024 to the right posterior temporal. The tissue sample taken was not indicative of a brain tumour that had grown from the brain itself, but rather a metastatic tumour that had grown from elsewhere in the body, but were unable to pinpoint where. Basically this was cancer but were unable to pinpoint the source ‘cancer of unknown primary’. Paul’s case was also reviewed by Christie’s. Paul was prescribed anti seizure medication and arrangements made for him to be seen by an oncology specialist on the 10 April 2024, it was suggested that the likelihood was that the primary source of the cancer was from his lungs, that it was likely to come back and that they would be recommending stereotactic radiotherapy which commenced the following day. Paul would also be then referred to a consultant clinical oncologist who was a lung and brain specialist.

They were advised that there was no long term cure, that it was likely that something else would be found in the next 12 months, to keep healthy, active and to live like it wasn’t happening…. How…when you feel your life is falling apart?….

A month later, Paul was seen by the clinical oncologist who advised that the diagnosis was ‘stage 4 neuro endocrine aggressive cancer’, and that they would be recommending chemotherapy. On the 4 June 2024 - The dreaded chemotherapy and targeted immunotherapy commenced. Paul would describe this as one of the worst times, based on how the treatment made him feel. He would continue to have regular blood tests and scans.

Paul was continuing to have seizures every couple of months. In September 2024 they were advised that the latest scan was showing no spread which was really good and that things remained stable.

Since the surgery he has been diagnosed with ‘left superior quandrantanopia’ (loss of vision in the upper left quadrant of the visual field in both eyes).

Part of the original biopsy’s had been sent to the national laboratory to try to establish a targeted treatment, however they were advised that the NHS may not fund this type of treatment.

From this moment forward, life for Paul and his family has completely changed. A life now evolved around hospital appointments, scans, crippling treatment and living with the uncertainty of when the next seizure may hit. What they would describe as surviving and not living, alongside the pre grief and mourning for the life and future you had originally planned for and was being taken away from you.

Following a further scan in November 2024, Paul was advised that the latest Brian scan did not show good results. Whilst the previously treated area showed good treatment response, there were now rapidly growing new nodules developed in the right temporal lobe (between 2cm - 7 cm) and were almost certain to be new tumour deposits. When reviewed by a neurosurgeon they recommended a further resection to try and remove all these tumours. The oncologist advised that this would also allow for tissue analysis to provide clues on the best possible post operative treatment or matching Paul for a clinical trial if special gene mutations are found.

Paul was due to have further brain surgery in December 2024, however this was unfortunately delayed due to blood tests highlighting problems with his Liver (likely immunotherapy induced). Paul then sadly suffered a further seizure on the 9th February 2025 which escalated into a cluster of seizures over several days and having to be admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Lancaster Infirmary. Thanks to our incredible NHS Paul only spent a few days in ICU before being transferred to a ward and then discharged 11 days later.

Paul had a further CT brain scan in February 2025, which showed more mass effect within the brain and there was uncertainty around carrying out a future operation given the recent problems with his liver. They were advised that surgery was only a small piece of the jigsaw and that if treatment did not commence within the following two weeks that the tumours would return to their original state more or less within this period. They were informed that the histology report from the biopsy of tissues taken could take 7 - 10 workings days but that excision was the best route. So on March 13th 2025, Paul underwent his second brain surgery, following which he has had a couple of seizures and also a bad reaction to medication which was soon removed from his regime.

Paul was discharged on the 26th March 2025 and is currently recovering at home, awaiting his next appointment with his oncologist which is scheduled for the 1 April 2025, at which point it is hoped that targeted therapy can be suggested.

Why Paul and his family need your help

Paul is currently awaiting the outcome of the biopsy’s taken during his last operation and what, if any treatment is recommended by the NHS.

In order to not lose hope, Paul is now seeking support through additional channels to give him the best chance and complement any recommended forthcoming treatment and to assist with his general well being and quality of life through this period. Particularly if past experience is anything to go off, the horrendous impact he felt from the previous Chemotherapy treatment. This includes private medical advice, high dose intravenous Vitamin C, hyperthermy and potential immunotherapy treatment, all cutting-edge approaches that are not available on the NHS but have shown incredible promise for those suffering with brain tumours.

This is a time-sensitive opportunity which if successful could give Paul extended life, time with his family and be able to see Georgina grow. Every single minute and moment is so precious.

The Harsh Reality

12-24 months.

How You Can Help

Paul and his wife Gemma are not ones to ask for help, so that’s where I come in…they cannot do this alone.

This is truly a race against time, and every single donation or share brings Paul closer to the support and treatment he needs.

It breaks my heart to imagine Paul not being there to watch Georgina grow up. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.

With love and gratitude

Gemma, Paul and Georgina (via Katie)