Support Daniel fight this brain tumour!

Hi, my name is Katelyn and I’m fundraising for my brother in law Daniel.

On May 13, 2022, after eight long months of searching for answers, Daniel finally received the call for an MRI. For months, he’d endured a cycle of unending pain, severe headaches, and a feeling that something wasn’t right. Doctors initially attributed it to pulled muscles, with treatments like physiotherapy offering only temporary relief. Daniel trusted his instincts against a bulk-billed CT Scan and pushed for the out of pocket MRI investigation. The MRI results changed everything. What appeared on the screen was a 5.2cm brain tumor. The words landed with a weight none of us could bear, and Daniel was rushed to the RAH for immediate evaluation.

From that moment, life as we knew it pivoted. That very Thursday, Daniel underwent emergency surgery to relieve the pressure in his brain, and a valve was installed to help regulate the flow of spinal fluid. Just as the family tried to comprehend this new reality, they received news that should have been met with pure joy: Danni, his wife, was pregnant with their second daughter, Sophie. But what should have been months filled with anticipation and planning for Sophie’s arrival, became months of drafting wills, planning surgeries, and an overarching fear of what the future held.

In a high-risk, 16-hour operation, surgeons managed to remove approximately 80% of the tumor. But the remaining amount was located too close to primary arteries; attempting to excise it in its entirety, risked devastating consequences, being permanent disability, or death. With no surgically safer way forward, the doctors adopted a “wait and watch” approach, clinging to the hope that the tumor would lay dormant. However, with each 6-month scan, the tumor crept forward, growing by about 1mm each time—a small change with massive implications.

The prognosis now: radiation was essential.

Daniel’s oncologist is now advocating for access to a treatment that could make a monumental difference. Through federal funding, there’s a chance for Daniel to undergo proton therapy in the United States of America. An option that has a more targeted approach with less radiation exposure to surrounding tissue now hinges on an approval by the federal MTOP panel. But Daniel, and his family are holding out hope, clinging to a dream of this treatment giving him a future free of medically induced limitations. If denied, Daniel will begin conventional photon therapy in Adelaide, a treatment that, though effective, still possesses its own increased level of risk.

This is a lottery shot—a glimmer of hope that Daniel and his family are willing to pursue to ensure that he’s there for the milestones yet to come for his beautiful daughters, 2-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Olivia.

The fund we are establishing isn’t just about medical bills. It’s about supporting a family’s life through the storm. It’s about keeping the lights on, covering mortgage payments, and to allow Danni and their two little girls to be with Daniel for the initial introduction into treatment. These funds will go toward everyday expenses, essential treatments and lost wages.

This journey is not one Daniel or his family wanted to make public, nor did they ever expect to ask for help. But they recognise that courage lies in vulnerability, and no battle is won alone. With your support, we hope to lift the weight they carry, even just a little, to ease the financial and emotional struggles that lie ahead.

Your contribution, no matter the size, means the world. Sharing this message alone ripples out support that gives Daniel and his family the strength to continue this battle. With each gift and each share, you’re giving Daniel a chance at a life with his family, a chance to watch his daughters grow up, and a chance to move forward with hope.

We thank you, deeply, for supporting this journey.