In February 2025 our lives changed forever. My husband Kevin, at only 48 years old was diagnosed with stage 4 bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) – a rare and aggressive cancer with very few symptoms and survival rates amongst the worst of any cancer. This heart-breaking diagnosis came as a complete shock to us and all those who love him. Having to tell our three children (12, 9 and 7) was the most difficult thing we have ever had to do.

Despite the devastating news we have been determined to fight with everything we have. Kevin has shown such strength and courage – enduring all of his treatment whilst still working. As cholangiocarcinoma is very often diagnosed late Kevin’s disease is too advanced to have it removed surgically. He has therefore completed 6 months of chemotherapy. When initial scans showed promising tumour shrinkage we started to hope – not for a ‘cure’ – but to keep the disease at bay for a bit longer. However, Kevin’s most recent scan has shown that the disease has progressed. He is now on second line chemotherapy with further treatment options on the NHS unfortunately limited.

Our fight therefore continues. We have sought private second opinions from leading experts, including genetic profiling which is not available in Scotland. Unfortunately, Kevin’s cancer does not have any mutations that will respond to current immunotherapy drugs or clinical trials.

We are now exploring additional treatments not available to Kevin on the NHS that will, alongside his chemotherapy treatment, slow the progression of the disease and, most importantly, give us all precious extra time together as a family.

These include:

• Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) – an innovative therapy developed for the treatment of inoperable primary and secondary liver cancer. It involves infusing millions of radioactive beads into the main blood supply of the liver.

• Ablation techniques which use heat or high voltage current to destroy the cancer cells.

• A personalised peptide vaccine – an innovative therapy in Germany designed to help the immune system recognise and attack the specific cancer cells in Kevin’s tumours.

These treatments offer vital hope and a realistic chance to slow Kevin’s cancer, giving us more time together. Time for us to be a family, to do the ordinary things and make memories. Like most children their age, ours love football, drama and dance. Seeing them play and perform keeps us going. They all have milestones coming up that we would love to celebrate as a family. These life-extending treatments could give us that.

The estimated costs of treatment, medical care and travel is £50,000 and we urgently need your help to reach this goal.

Having recently watched our eldest start secondary school it is unbearable to think Kevin may not see our two little girls do the same. The children and I – his ‘Team Wemyss’ – are his world. He is much loved by us and his family and friends. It’s a cliché - but everyone who meets Kevin loves him. Known for his warmth, kindness, quick wit, Kevin is a natural at making people feel valued with his genuine care for others. Throughout his nearly 20-year career as a data network engineer - from the NHS, to Switchshop and now SSEN - Kevin has always gone out of his way to support others. Now we're asking for help to support him.

You can help ‘Team Wemyss’ to reach our goal. If you are able, we would be very grateful if you could make a donation, no matter how small. Each and every one will make a difference. We do understand that not everyone will be in the position to donate. Instead, we ask you to please share this page with your family, friends, colleagues and on your social media. The more people that are aware the more chance there is of reaching the target, giving Kevin the opportunity to live as well as he can for as long as he can to make memories with his family.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering supporting us.