Hi, my name is Jaimee. I'm 28 years old, and a mum to my 5 year old little boy, Teddy. As well as a mum, I am a daughter, a sister, a partner, and a friend.

My whole life changed when I was diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer (IDH1-Mutant, CNS WHO grade 4 Astrocytoma). I've undergone major brain surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, and now going through Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, with this type of cancer, even after the standard treatment the tumour will progress and no one can predict how quickly. The median survival rate is about 5 years.

More than anything, I desperately want more time with my little boy. Being Teddy's mummy is my whole reason for existence. And I’m not ready to say goodbye.

But for the first time since my diagnosis, I've been given a glimmer of hope. I've been offered a rare opportunity to participate in the TarGet-D clinical trial at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio, USA, investigating a drug called Olutasidenib for IDH1-Mutant high grade Gliomas like mine.

Finding a trial that matches my exact cancer, mutation and stage of treatment is incredibly difficult. There is no guarantee another suitable option will come at the right time. If there is even a possibility this treatment could give me more time with Teddy, I need to know I tried.

And if taking part can help someone else facing this disease have a better outcome in the future, it would give some sense of purpose to such an awful situation.

Unfortunately, because this trial is based in the US, it is associated with an enormous amount of medical costs and travel expenses. The Olutasidenib study drug itself is provided by the clinical trial, however the monthy required tests, scans and monitoring are not covered for me in America. The medical cost estimate we have received from Nationwide Children's Hospital puts these costs alone at approximately £170, 516 ($231, 624).

Under the proposed arrangement, I would need to travel from the UK to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, initiallly for enrollment and then return once every month, over the course of two years. Those repeated journeys create many additional costs on top of the associated medical costs quoted by the hospital.

We therefore need to raise a total of £320,516 to give me a realistic chance of completing the trial.

Funds will be managed by my Mum who will pay medical costs, flights, accommodation and all other costs on my behalf.

This would need to cover:

But we only have FOUR weeks to raise these funds.

The trial treatments required to begin alongside my next stage of chemotherapy, starting in approximately seven weeks. The required associated medical costs have to be paid 21 days before treatment begins, leaving us with only four weeks to raise the money we need to make this possible.

£320,516 is an amount of money I never imagined I would have to ask people to help me raise.

I wish more than anything I didn't have to.

But the alternative is potentially turning down an opportunity because my family and I simply cannot afford the massive associated costs. And when I look at Teddy, I just can't do that. I have to try.

I accept that there is no cure for my cancer, but there is an opportunity for more time - and I need that.

I need to watch my sons smiles and laughter on more christmas mornings. To be there for more birthdays, and to watch him become the young man I've always imagined.

I' m not asking one person to make this possible. I'm asking as many people as possible to help in whatever way they can.

Every donation, no matter how small, matters. And if you aren't able to donate, please share this page. One share could put my story in front of somebody who can help. Please help me reach this goal, and hopefully get more time with my precious boy.

If you'd like to know more information about the TarGet-D clinical trial, you can read here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06161974

UPDATE

Firstly, I want to say the biggest thank you to every single person who has donated, shared, fundraised and supported me.

The amount of love and support you have all shown me, Teddy and my family has been completely overwhelming. I honestly don’t think I will ever be able to put into words what it means to know that so many people have stood beside me during the hardest time of my life.

Together, you have helped raise an incredible amount of money towards giving me access to treatment options that I could never have afforded on my own.

When we originally launched my fundraiser, our aim was to raise £320,516 within four weeks to make it realistically possible for me to take part in the TarGeT-D clinical trial at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

Despite the absolutely incredible amount that everyone managed to raise, unfortunately, we did not reach the full amount required within the very short timeframe available.

Because of the significant costs involved in committing to a two-year treatment programme in America, I don’t feel it would be responsible to move forward with that route without having raised enough money to give me a realistic chance of being able to complete it.

This means that, unfortunately, the Nationwide trial is no longer a viable option for me.

But thankfully, I have now been presented with another treatment opportunity.

I have been offered the opportunity to receive private hyperthermia treatment with Dr Paul Mulholland alongside my chemotherapy, together with other medications and treatments he has recommended as part of my ongoing care.

Hyperthermia has shown promising evidence of improving survival in aggressive, high-grade brain tumours, so for me, this is another opportunity to try to gain more time with Teddy.

And that is ultimately what this fundraiser has always been about.

More time.

For me, this means the incredible amount you have all raised can still be used for what we have been fighting for from the very beginning — giving me access to additional treatment for my brain cancer and every possible opportunity to have more time with my little boy.

All funds raised will be used towards my cancer treatment and the costs directly associated with my care. This includes my current private treatment, additional medications and monitoring, future private treatment options, clinical trials or other medically recommended treatments that may become available to me, and the costs associated with accessing them.

Unfortunately, with my diagnosis, treatment isn’t simply one intervention and then the fight is over.

My doctors have been clear that this is an incurable cancer and that further treatment is likely to be needed in the future. Having these funds available means that if and when I face progression or recurrence, or if another promising treatment opportunity becomes available to me, I will hopefully be in a position to act quickly rather than having to start fundraising all over again while facing another urgent treatment deadline.

The treatment route may have changed, but the reason behind this fundraiser has not.

Every donation remains dedicated to helping me access treatment for my cancer, both now and in the future, and to giving me the best possible chance of having more time with my little boy.

I know that so many of you have followed this journey, shared my story, organised events, donated what you could and helped me get to this point.

So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for giving me hope.

Thank you for helping me keep fighting.

Because of all of you, I am able to keep pursuing treatment rather than having to stop because of the financial cost.

And for that, I will be forever grateful. ❤️