Help for Chris's Family
Donation protected
Transferred from YouCaring site which closed in July 2018
For Chris’ Family following Metastatic Cancer Diagnosis
This is my friend and colleague Chris. He is 43, he has a wife with whom he has enjoyed 14 wonderful years and together they have three beautiful children. It’s for them as much as it is for him that I am asking for your generous support.
In May 2017, Chris lost his father to Oesophageal Cancer at the age of 68 following a short period of illness. In November 2017, exactly six months to the day of his father’s death, Chris received his own devastating diagnosis.
It all began in 2000/01 when Chris had minor surgery to remove a mole from his right forearm; this was later to be diagnosed as a malignant melanoma (a form of skin cancer). The subsequent periodic health checks seemed to confirm that this was a one-off and he was discharged in the mid 2000s.
In Autumn 2017, Chris had recently been attending a couple of conferences and felt unusually poorly at one – a sore lump in his right armpit and flu like symptoms. A visit to his GP led to a referral to hospital on the basis of his past medical history. A couple of intensive weeks followed including an invasive biopsy from the lump (which had reduced in size), a CT scan and regular blood tests etc. Given his history, he feared for the return of cancer – and was braced for surgery to remove the lump. Sadly, it transpired it was a lot more serious than even he had imagined. Test results had shown it was indeed cancer. This time, however, it wasn’t confined to the lump; it had spread (metastasised) and had been found via CT scan in his lungs, his liver and potentially his spleen. His diagnosis was Stage IV Melanoma.
As one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer and without treatment, a Stage IV Melanoma could reduce his life expectancy to at best 6-12 months. Since that day, he has had the unenviable and emotional task of telling his family, friends and of course myself and other colleagues about his illness and what the future holds for him.
Whilst Chris accepts there is no cure for his condition, he is not without hope. He has consented to a course of immunotherapy treatment as a potential means of managing the disease beyond the 6-12 month critical survival period. He had his first dose in December: despite exhibiting serious side effects over the Christmas and New Year period, he is determined to complete his course to maximise the benefits offered by the treatment.
Whilst his long-term survival odds are going to be challenging, Chris has continued to display incredible strength and composure in the face of life changing news and unbelievable odds, and insists he has not finished his life experiences yet. He continues to work full-time and maintains he and his little family are only in the middle of their journey together; he feels the need to be here for them, guide them and do the usual stuff that dads are supposed to do.
But he is also pragmatic and realistic, and knows that that opportunity has more than likely been taken from him: that his time with them is now more precious than he could ever have imagined, and now wants to find ways to support them after he has gone.
Goal
Our fundraising challenge is to help support Chris and his family during the time he has left - for his loved ones that he may be leaving behind sooner than he should be.
Our primary objective is to provide financial support to his wife and his children - particularly for his children, on their journey to adulthood. Chris then gets to be there for them as they continue their journey through life, such as college or university fees, marriage or even contributing towards the deposit on their first home. Our target is £5,000 for each child which would help to fulfil the Trust Funds he has already established for each of them.
Our secondary objective is to help Chris and his family have good memories in 2018 and hopefully 2019 and beyond. We are looking to help Chris organise two short-break family holidays – a weekend trip to London to see a West End Show and a fossil hunting trip to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Our target is £2,000 to cover his travel and accommodation costs.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help us.
Sarah Huntley
For Chris’ Family following Metastatic Cancer Diagnosis
This is my friend and colleague Chris. He is 43, he has a wife with whom he has enjoyed 14 wonderful years and together they have three beautiful children. It’s for them as much as it is for him that I am asking for your generous support.
In May 2017, Chris lost his father to Oesophageal Cancer at the age of 68 following a short period of illness. In November 2017, exactly six months to the day of his father’s death, Chris received his own devastating diagnosis.
It all began in 2000/01 when Chris had minor surgery to remove a mole from his right forearm; this was later to be diagnosed as a malignant melanoma (a form of skin cancer). The subsequent periodic health checks seemed to confirm that this was a one-off and he was discharged in the mid 2000s.
In Autumn 2017, Chris had recently been attending a couple of conferences and felt unusually poorly at one – a sore lump in his right armpit and flu like symptoms. A visit to his GP led to a referral to hospital on the basis of his past medical history. A couple of intensive weeks followed including an invasive biopsy from the lump (which had reduced in size), a CT scan and regular blood tests etc. Given his history, he feared for the return of cancer – and was braced for surgery to remove the lump. Sadly, it transpired it was a lot more serious than even he had imagined. Test results had shown it was indeed cancer. This time, however, it wasn’t confined to the lump; it had spread (metastasised) and had been found via CT scan in his lungs, his liver and potentially his spleen. His diagnosis was Stage IV Melanoma.
As one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer and without treatment, a Stage IV Melanoma could reduce his life expectancy to at best 6-12 months. Since that day, he has had the unenviable and emotional task of telling his family, friends and of course myself and other colleagues about his illness and what the future holds for him.
Whilst Chris accepts there is no cure for his condition, he is not without hope. He has consented to a course of immunotherapy treatment as a potential means of managing the disease beyond the 6-12 month critical survival period. He had his first dose in December: despite exhibiting serious side effects over the Christmas and New Year period, he is determined to complete his course to maximise the benefits offered by the treatment.
Whilst his long-term survival odds are going to be challenging, Chris has continued to display incredible strength and composure in the face of life changing news and unbelievable odds, and insists he has not finished his life experiences yet. He continues to work full-time and maintains he and his little family are only in the middle of their journey together; he feels the need to be here for them, guide them and do the usual stuff that dads are supposed to do.
But he is also pragmatic and realistic, and knows that that opportunity has more than likely been taken from him: that his time with them is now more precious than he could ever have imagined, and now wants to find ways to support them after he has gone.
Goal
Our fundraising challenge is to help support Chris and his family during the time he has left - for his loved ones that he may be leaving behind sooner than he should be.
Our primary objective is to provide financial support to his wife and his children - particularly for his children, on their journey to adulthood. Chris then gets to be there for them as they continue their journey through life, such as college or university fees, marriage or even contributing towards the deposit on their first home. Our target is £5,000 for each child which would help to fulfil the Trust Funds he has already established for each of them.
Our secondary objective is to help Chris and his family have good memories in 2018 and hopefully 2019 and beyond. We are looking to help Chris organise two short-break family holidays – a weekend trip to London to see a West End Show and a fossil hunting trip to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Our target is £2,000 to cover his travel and accommodation costs.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help us.
Sarah Huntley
Organizer
Sarah Huntley
Organizer
