Time to rebuild
Donation protected
My name is Daniel Thomas (24yo)
I am seeking support from anyone who would be interested in supporting me in my fight against a cancerous tumour.
I have been diagnosed with a grade 1 chondrosarcoma, that is located underneath the brain and is next to my pertuitry gland and the corotid artery. I am currently in Jacksonville, Florida under treatment of the Proton Insitute, where I am receiving 39 treatments of proton beam therapy over the course of 8 weeks.
My life turned upside down 4 years ago when I started to develop double vision from my right eye. At the time I was currently in the process of Police recruitment and made it to the 4th stage of interigation and interview. I noticed that people and objects were being split into two direct images.
We were refered to the local NHS where MRI and CT scans were taken but nothing was detected and the vision was still a mystery. On further eye testing from the NHS I was then refered to Hurstwood Park, a nurological centre located in Haywards Heath. There I was placed under a neurosurgeon who studied the scans and my symptoms and came to the conclusion that a small mass was found. At the time the mass was not seen as a danger and they would continue to observe any growth and that the mass was inoperable due to its location.
After nearly a year of being misdiagnosed, my outstanding mum seeked for a second opinion through our GP, who supported us in doing so. And we chose the hospital for nurology and neurosurgery in London (UCLH)
In September 2017 we met with A leading neurosurgeon by the name of Mr David Choi. On speaking with him, he advised us that the tumour was abnormal, grown in size and was in a dangerous location if it continued to grow. With this information he told me that an operation was possible through the nasal cavity. And in November 2017 the operation took place.
Enough was gathered for a biopsy from the successful operation and on the 6th December 2017, I was given the devastating news that the Tumour was cancerous.
After my treatment is completed in the US. I will return home and start to rebuild my life. Unfortunately I lost my job and car before leaving the UK. Your donations will help me get back on my feet, and will support me while I look for a new career and be put towards a car. Due to the loss of my job I can no longer pay my mum any rent which went towards bills and food, so this has caused financial problems. Alongside my mum fighting with her own job, who threatened to not pay or give her the time off work to support me through my treatment and has had to take this time as. In her jobs words a 'career break' this has been unnecessary stress from the NHS who she works for.
Once I am back on my feet my goal is to create a Proton Therapy UK programme to assist families who need Proton treatment in the US with living expenses. This will be created by fund raising and events, and I am to pursue creating an awareness campaign and to conduct talks through local schools to the younger generation on sarcoma based cancers. I will also be working alongside established charities, such as Sarcoma UK to help patients with support.
And I have started by becoming an Ambassador for The Proton Institute here in Jacksonville.
My treatment to date has been going incredibly well and I wish to thank all the love and support I have had so far.
Cancer is real, but it can and will be beaten
Thank you
Organizer
Daniel Thomas
Organizer
