Help give Manea dad a second chance of life
A family have launched a major Gofundme appeal to help a father receive ground-breaking treatment for an incurable brain tumour.
Chris Brooks from Manea was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June - just 10 months after a dream wedding to his wife Kirsty.
The father of three daughters was then given the devastating news that he has a Grade 4 Astrocytoma, an incurable brain tumour, after undergoing an operation.
He is currently undergoing treatment on the NHS after doctors warned he has between 12 and 18 months to live.
His wife Kirsty said: "Hearing the consultant say my husband, has a brain tumour and surgery needed to be done as soon as possible, left us heartbroken, and a day hasn’t gone by where we haven’t had tears.
"The NHS have given him an extremely poor prognosis of 12-18 months with the standard of care treatment, which Chris is currently going through.
"Unfortunately although the NHS have been amazing the standard of care treatment isn’t enough for this cruel disease, the tumour is extremely likely to return."
Chris' family and friends have since spent hours carrying out extensive research and have also spoken to two top neuro-oncologist’s in America and London.
As a result they have learned of a new innovative immunotherapy treatment at a clinic called Cegat in Germany.
Cegat make a personalised peptide cancer vaccine that has helped many other people with brain tumours. This works by using the DNA from Chris’s tumour to make a personalised vaccine, which is a powerful tool for boosting the immune system’s response to destroy the cancer cells.
The first process of blood work, paperwork and transfer from Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge to the German clinic and tumour analysis takes four weeks. The vaccine will then take eight weeks to make.
Kirsty said: "Unfortunately this treatment comes at a cost, a cost of around £50,000 plus travel expenses for regular trips to Germany and travel insurance. This is our only option to give Chris a second chance at life. We all want nothing more than Chris to have many more years and to see his beautiful girls grow up.
"This is where we need your help. Any donation big or small is hugely appreciated to enable us to get to Germany and to pay for his treatment.
"We have some amazing friends planning some fundraising events such as race nights, football matches and dart competitions. One of our friend’s is even looking to jump out of a plane.
"I would just like to say both Chris and I along with our families are extremely grateful for everyone’s kindness and generosity."