Help James live #getjameshealed

Team fundraiser

James Heald and Paul Heald are organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Julie Heald.

Donation protected

I'm James, or jam, and I got diagnosed with stage 4 terminal brain cancer in July 2021, at the age of 26. At the time they gave me 12 to 18 months to live. I'm writing this in February 2023, 19 months into the diagnosis.

Me, my Dad (Paul), and a lamb. Approx 1997.

3/4 members of 'album club' enjoying our Christmas records, December 2022.

Since my diagnosis, I've had three brain surgeries, 6 weeks of radiotherapy, 11 rounds of chemotherapy, developed epilepsy with frequent seizures (3 of which got me blue-lighted to A&E), been hospitalised numerous times, had Cushing's syndrome, and overall had a horrific time with fatigue and pain from my treatments.

I've also started working again, developed unbreakable bonds with my friends and family, spent time with my beloved pets, seen two of my best friends get engaged, found the love of my life, and moved into my own flat.

I saw a shooting star with my best friends, on holiday in Wales, on the eve of my birthday. I took this as a sign to do whatever I can to get better.

I walked home from every brain surgery after just 3 days (via Rinkoff's Bakery). I've never let my diagnosis get in the way of my life.

My recovery so far has been hell, but I've learned so much from it and have even more drive to live at the end of it.

I've never really thought of myself as a fighter but I guess I am, and I don't want to die. This is my priority; to live my life to the fullest and make the world a better place for other people.

I'm looking to raise £100,000 to cover medical bills and expenses for my family and me. I am looking to go to Germany and have a breakthrough experimental treatment, OV therapy, which could cure me.

I want to be a pioneer in finding a cure. And yes, that will involve getting herpes (or similiar) injected into my brain.

Love, James.

OV (Oncolytic Virus) Therapy #brainherpes

All current treatments for brain cancer are palliative. Chemotherapy and radiation only serves to prolong life, on average only for a few months. James has been very lucky in that he has responded extraordinarily well to these treatments, even if the chemotherapy has taken its toll on his mind and body. James' latest MRI scan showed that, although his response has been good overall, the tumour is still growing in some places and we are running out of treatment options offered by the NHS. Because of this, we have elected to go for OV therapy in Germany.

What is OV therapy?

OV therapy is a pioneering cancer treatment which can be used in multiple solid tumours. It infects and kills cancer cells, and then provokes an immune response in the human body, 'unmasking' cancer cells which were previously invisible to the immune system. There have been long-noted links between infection with viruses and spontaneous remission of advanced cancers - we are trying to access this for James in a safe, controlled environment.

Why OV for brain cancer?

OV's have shown a lot of promise in treating brain cancers, which are notoriously 'immunologically cold' - this means normal immune responses which fight cancer cells don't work as well on this type of cancer. You can find lots more information about them here. OV's for brain cancer have recently been approved for use in Japan, showing their promise. We just can't access them in the UK.

Why Germany?

While looking for alternative treatment plans for James, we were directed towards a clinic based in Germany which offers pioneering OV therapy for brain cancer. You can read more about what they do at the clinic here. The clinic has had amazing results previously, through novel 'virus delivery' mechanisms (!!!). They have begun administering the viruses through a port (called an Ommaya reservoir), which is placed directly into the brain via a short surgery.

Although this treatment is entirely experimental, the clinic in Germany is the best possible place to seek this treatment. James is a great candidate for this treatment; he is young, fit, and most importantly has an enormous will to live and thrive.

Where will my money go?

The reason for this gofundme is to finance the treatment in Germany, including; travel, the initial treatment, scans, and consultations with specialist doctors. James will be having FET-PET-MRI scans (a specialist type of scan) in Munich, and be being treated in Dusseldorf. Finally, we hope to use the money to pay for repeat trips to Germany for further virus infusions down the line (the frequency of these will be determined by James' initial response to treatment) and also for further scans so that we can keep track of what's going on in James' head!

The estimated costs for treatment have been given to us as being around £100,000, which is why we have set the target here to begin with.

As we go through this, we will post regular updates so you can keep up with how James is going. Thank you!!

Showing off my scar after my debulking surgery.

Celebrating my 'death day' (15 months after my diagnosis) which conveniently fell on Halloween 2022.

Just after radiotherapy finished, with my dog Willow and my girlfriend Lucy (in order of importance).

In Portmeirion with my best friends, October 2022.

After my third big seizure in May 2022. I was hospitalised for three days with 'Todd's Paralysis' which is essentially when you get all the symptoms of a stroke, without having a stroke. I couldn't speak or move my right hand side properly.

In the Barbican conservatory at a work party, summer 2022.

Feb 2022 - my chemotherapy and steroid medications made me achy, grumpy and uncomfortable. My mum bought me a foot spa to try and ease the pain (just out of picture).