Help Mark beat brain cancer

$20 raised

From 1 Donations
TARGET $110,000

Please support this cause

AUD
$
Raising funds for: Mark Sullivan
UPDATE: In April this year we were all packed up and ready to head to Germany for treatment when we were delivered the devastating news at my routine scan that another tumour had appeared!! I was then put on chemotherapy in the attempt to shrink and eventually eliminate the tumour. I have now received 3 months of chemo but unfortunately have not reacted well to the treatment. After recent scans also revealed that the tumour has increased in size the specialists have made the decision to stop the chemo. We are now in even more desperation to get to Germany. We are booked in to start treatment the 19th September 2016. xoxo (Original story below) ______________________________________________________________ My name is Mark Sullivan. I’m 32 years of age, last year I married the love of my life Estelle. Estelle and I recently welcomed into the world our beautiful daughter Matilda. We live in Sydney and until my illness I was a Surveyor. In February 2014 I was diagnosed with a large brain tumor in the centre of my brain. Symptoms developed very quickly and I was rushed to Hospital where I was operated on as a matter of urgency. The excision of the tumor (a malignant high grade 111 anaplastic astrocytoma) required two major operations during the course of the next two days, followed by 6 weeks of intensive radiotherapy. Thanks to the skill of my surgeon, I survived, but have residual damage – no right peripheral vision (totally blind on my right side) in both eyes (so, I cannot drive or work), poor memory function, no sense of smell, always feel hungry, and an inability to know when I’ve had enough to eat – However, and more importantly, my survival chances are poor without cutting edge therapy that is only available at the Duderstadt clinic in Germany. The Duderstadt treatment is known as Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy. Their success rates have been remarkable. Essentially the technology uses my own cells that are removed, treated and then returned, but before the clinic would accept me for treatment I was required to have some very specific blood tests done - This I did and fortunately I am a good fit! The initial treatment is 12 days, which is then followed by four, one-day treatments each about 30 days apart. In other words I would be treated over a continuous 5-month period. Once the initial 5-month treatment is over I will have to return to Germany every 4 months for a number of years to receive followup treatments. The cost of the treatment combined with travel and accommodation costs is about $110,000. We unfortunately don’t have this. I want to live as long as possible and therefore humbly ask for your help via a donation of any kind towards my treatment. Time is of the essence. Whatever you can do for me will be greatly appreciated. To view the full version of my story, please click on the PDF below. Thank you.
Update
09 Feb 2017
Hi all, Sorry for the delayed update regarding my most recent scan. Two weeks ago I had my fourth round of treatment in Germany. I have discussed the scan results with both the German doctors and my Sydney doctors and neither can determine exactly what the lesion that is showing up is. It has not increased in size which is a good thing. We are still a bit in limbo and will have more of an idea in the coming few months. The main thing is that I feel great. More energetic, improved memory, less fatigue and just more focused. My German doctor is really happy with how I am reacting to the treatment and has asked to see me again in 3 months for another round of DC therapy. We will return to Australia next week and slowly settle back into a normal life again which will be great. I thank you all once again as this would not have been possible without your support. Mark xo
Update
30 Nov 2016
Hi all, Firstly my apologies that I have not given regular updates since beginning treatment. I thought it was appropriate that I update you all on my current health and the treatment process to date. In my last update I informed you that a new tumour had appeared on my routine scan. I was then put on chemotherapy which unfortunately did not react well with myself nor shrink the tumour. This meaning we headed straight to Germany. We arrived in Germany September 16th to begin treatment September 19th. Meeting the Doctor for the first time was exciting but also quite daughting. Thankfully he is a very lovely guy and also speaks great English. He is very easy to talk with, explaining everything clearly and not to mention super intelligent. I have just completed my third lot of treatment and to tell you the truth feel great. I will post a little info below which explains what the treatment entails. For the last month or so I have felt really well. When I say well it is hard to explain but mentally stronger and just generally a lot better, not as tired, not as worn out, just generally healthier than I have felt in the past couple of years. It is an amazing feeling! The treatment has been a lot less invasive and I don’t feel as sick as I originally thought I would. The past few months of positive and healthy lifestyle changes have paid off with my latest immune response tests coming back very positive. We are currently based at my brother inlaws and travel in and out of Germany during the treatment period. Treatment is for a total of 3 days every four weeks. I am booked in for an MRI in two weeks time which fingers crossed shows that the tumour has been eliminated or at least reduced in size. I have attached a few pics of our journey so far including the beautiful little town of Duderstadt where the clinic is located. I will let you all know the results of my scan in two weeks time. In the meantime enjoy the sun while we freeze our butts off here. Thank you all once again for your support. I am forever grateful for you making this possible. Kind regards, Mark
DONATIONS1
Mycause Logo
Joseph Kelly
Thu, 9 Feb 2017
$ 20
$ 20
RAISING FUNDS FOR
Mark SullivanMark's journey with brain cancer. Please help get Mark to Germany for treatment. Thank you
FUNDS BANKED TO:
Estelle Theodorou

Campaign Creator
MS
Mark Sullivan
Naremburn, NSW
Created Aug 2015

$20 raised

From 1 Donations
TARGET $110,000

Please support this cause

AUD
$
RAISING FUNDS FOR
Mark SullivanMark's journey with brain cancer. Please help get Mark to Germany for treatment. Thank you
FUNDS BANKED TO:
Estelle Theodorou
Campaign Creator
MS
Mark Sullivan
Naremburn, NSW
Created Aug 2015