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Hello everyone,

Firstly, I’d like to start by thanking you, because if you’re reading this, it means you’ve taken the time to navigate to my GoFundMe page.

So, I’m Julie. Im just 39 years of age. I’m a very proud Mum, to two incredible children & partner to Paul.

And Never in a million years did I think I’d be writing this, but here we are; so let me start by telling you my Story…

The Signs

It was early 2020 when I started noticing my symptoms; continuous ache in my belly, mucas in my stool and sometimes a little blood.

But I must be honest, like many of us, I’ve never been the type to make a fuss if I was feeling a little under the weather, Ive always been one for ‘getting on with it’. So I did. I carried on with life.

Although, if there’s one piece of advice I could give you, it’s to trust your gut. Listen to your body & if in doubt – check it out!

Because as time passed, the symptoms stayed. I started to question whether I had a food intolerance. I made notes of the foods I was eating.

I decided to seek medical guidance.

I went to the doctors and did a stool sample and was sent for bloods.

During this time I had convinced myself I was ok because other than my belly aches I felt well.

The following week an appointment was made to go over my results. My bloods came back which showed anaemia and my stool sample show ‘a little’ inflammation. Again, I wasn’t worried, the doctor was thinking along the lines of IBD, IBS etc. I was sent away with Iron tablets and to start food diaries.

I was still active, tried to keep a relatively healthy lifestyle & worked full time, so naturally feeling tired & lethargic was a result of the anaemia, surely?!

What possibly did I have to worry about!?

In May 2021 a group of us went to Snowdonia - it was a fabulous weekend but we ate rubbish and on the way home I knew I was in for trouble. That week the pains in my stomach increased massively and when I opened my bowels I had clots of blood coming out. I knew I had to go back to the doctors but at this point I can’t say I was worried. I went back to the doctors who did more blood tests and referred me for a Sigmoidoscopy, though she couldn’t put me through as urgent because I was under 40! This would take a few weeks, it took 10!

My bloods came back so low that I was very close to needing a blood transfusion.

The Diagnosis

August 21’ I went for my sigmoidoscopy . I was alone. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. You could hear the uncomfortable silence.

I was taken to a side room and was asked if I had anybody with me – I didn’t, but they gave me the opportunity to call Paul to be with me.

That’s when I knew it was bad.

They found a 6.5cm tumour at the top of my sigmoid.

A couple of weeks later I was diagnosed with locally advanced colorectal cancer which was in my lymph nodes, uterus and a lesion on the S1 disc of my lumbar.

My world collapsed, I felt numb. But despite the devastating news, I was confident that medicine would fix me!

My mind was in overdrive - How do you digest this type of news!?

I started researching. Reading, listening to podcasts. Joined support groups.

I’m also very, very lucky to have a huge support network around me.

The Treatment

In December ‘21 I started treatment, I was hopeful.

I had 28 days of chemo/radio. Sadly, I was rescanned at the end of Feb’22 which showed the cancer had spread to my peritoneal and liver.

My cancer had now become inoperable.

I now at 38 years old had Stage 4. But still determined as ever to beat this god awful disease.

I decided to start a combo of chemos called Capox for 3 months in the hope that would clear the lesions off my liver, then I would become operable.

I remained confident medicine would work. I was just 38! I have young children with a life ahead of me.

Following a scan in May ‘22, I received yet another blow; it had still continued to grow. The combo treatment didn’t work.

I am now palliative.

My next chemos were called Folfiri. Which consisted of 3 months treatment.

This was the worst round; the side affects had me on my knees. I couldn’t function, loss of appetite, hair loss, sickness, lethargy, the list goes on.

My stomach pain was crippling me.

I think I knew what the results were going to reveal, but you never want to admit that in your own head.

Trying to remain optimistic whilst experiencing all of the above isn’t easy.

Following the final found of chemo, I was re-scanned; on Tuesday 25th October I returned to KGH for my results.

The scan confirmed my worst nightmare. This time, the prognosis came with a timeframe - 3-6 months expectancy.

The tumours have progressed. I had a blockage in my bowel.

By Friday the 28th, I was in surgery being fitted with a Colostomy Bag, we’ve names her Beryl.

Me & Beryl are still very much adjusting, but I have high hopes for us.

Alternative Solutions?

I strongly believe there is a place for medicine but I have put my body through a year of harsh, debilitating drugs for nothing.

Through my journey I have heavily researched my cancer.

I have found that my mutation, KRAS, doesn’t respond well with chemo. Doctors won’t tell you this!

Because of this, I made the decision to start taking medicinal marijuana, it’s expensive but life is precious.

I have been using alternative medicine for 10 weeks. Whilst I haven’t yet seen improvement [shrinkage] among the tumours & liver metastasis this has helped my psychological state, pain & sleep.

But in addition, the cancer hasn’t spread to other areas.

Through extensive research, I have read that High Dose Vitamin C and HBOT treatment respond really well with my mutation. Like the marijuana, this isn’t something you can get on the NHS.

3 months of high dose Vit C, 3 times a week is around £13k over the course of 12 weeks.

I don’t have this kind of money having not worked for a year, so I’m [reluctantly] here to ask my friends, family and people who genuinely care, if they would be so kind and help me with some of the Financial pressure to enable me to undergo the High Dose Vit C & HBOT treatment, in the hope it can extend my life – this seems to be my last resort, and I’m praying it works!

And whilst I appreciate this is a huge ask, I’m not ready to give up my fight.

Please know, that however small, your donations are so massively appreciated.

Thankyou

JT Xx