Brad’s Fight Against Cancer
Hi everyone, my name is Nicole. At 22 years old my little brother Bradley has been diagnosed with an aggressive form a Sarcoma Cancer in his foot. Unfortunately, by the time we caught it, the tumour had basically consumed his entire foot, destroying all the bones and leaving his foot unsalvageable.
Additionally, this type of cancer does not respond well to Chemo or radiation, leaving Brad with only one option, amputation from the knee down.
All this information within just a short few weeks has been devastating to our family. But we are fighting together and staying optimistic that things will start looking up for Brad soon.
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Brad's story:
It was 2020 and it was an exciting year because I was just finishing up my third year of university. But in March my final third year semester took a terrible turn. Due to the coronavirus I was forced to finish my semester online but not only that, I had a terrible pain and swelling in my left ankle/foot.
I had visited my school clinic and then later the hospital with both telling me that I had a sprained ankle even with an x ray.
Eventually the pain had gotten so bad that I went to the hospital again where I had stayed in the ER for 24 hours doing tests. I was later admitted to the hospital where I had even more tests done including a biopsy.
One week later I received the results that completely rocked my world. I was told I had cancer, but they just weren’t sure what kind.
I left Ottawa and went home to tell my entire family and all my friends. They were devastated. I was devastated. I couldn’t believe that this was happening to me.
A week later I went to Toronto where an even larger biopsy was performed. They told me they would absolutely know what it was after that.
3 weeks later I went it and they still didn’t know. They had an idea that it was a sarcoma called Cic Dux4.
At this point my foot was so large. They had measured a tumour inside that was larger than 6cm. The pain was unbearable. I stayed up most nights rolling around and screaming.
One night I decided to look up this Cic Dux4. The only thing I wanted to know was the prognosis. I typed in Cic Dux4 survival rate and that’s when I saw... 28.2%. I broke down. I couldn’t believe it. I cried for the rest of night from the pain of my foot and pain in knowing that I was probably going to die.
That’s when my family and my doctor decided that the only alternative would be amputation. This was all happening so fast it felt like a dream. Nothing seemed real anymore. In February I had my entire life ahead of me, everything was going great. I was happy. I had jobs lined up for the summer and I had goals lined up for my life and I was going to achieve them too, I knew it. Then just 5 months later I felt as though I had nothing in my life.
But I didn’t want to give up. I couldn’t give up just like that. So that’s why I agreed to the amputation. My last hope. And I’m still going to achieve all my goals regardless because that’s what I was born to do. And I need a good prosthetic leg to do it.
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Brad was always the athletic one in our family and continues to live a very active lifestyle. He plays baseball and hockey, runs, and goes camping and hiking. The loss of a foot is not something that any 22 year old should have to endure. We hope to get Brad a prosthesis which will allow him to go back to living a normal life and complete university on time with his peers.
Brad’s amputation will be performed in a week, afterwards he will be fitted for his prosthesis. We are very grateful for the urgency the doctors have given to Brad’s treatment. However this gives us very little time to figure out finances.
A prosthetic leg will cost between $10,000 and $50,000, only part of which will be covered by insurance. Additionally Brad will require months of rehabilitation in Toronto. Money and bills are the last thing we want Brad to be concerned about right now. The purpose of this gofundme page is to help lessen the financial burden for Brad during this difficult time.
Thank you to all our family and friends. We appreciate all the prayers and kind words. I will continue to update this page regularly.
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A message from our mom, Wendy:
A mother’s worst nightmare ... is it a child’s death or watching her child struggle towards possible death as some unknown cancer ravages their body? Without any way to take away the pain, calm the fear, or offer possible explanation, this has been my reality for the past 7 weeks - an emotional and physical rollercoaster for the entire family.
After countless medical procedures (both invasive and non-invasive), visits to 5 different hospitals and at least as many doctors (some considered genius in the area of malignant sarcomas) we are no closer to finding a definitive diagnosis, as this cancer has baffled brilliant doctors and their colleagues, offering only a guess at a possible diagnosis, leaving Brad with no definitive cure or idea of outcome.
Can you imagine his fear? Can you imagine sitting by his side, doing nothing but waiting … for the phone calls from the doctor that never come, the results of tests that never calm, the sleepless nights that bring no rest, the miracles from heaven we still pray for...
To hear your child ask the doctor “am I going to die?” is something I hope you never have to experience. I can assure you it is utterly heart-breaking.
We have been overwhelmed by the love, support and many beautiful gestures you our family and friends have sent our way and appreciate every kind thought and prayer you offer us.
… please help us afford Brad the opportunity to live his life as fully as he has always dreamed.
Thanking you from the bottom of my heart,
Wendy Bishop