Let’s renovate for Neil ❤️

Hi my name is Gen and I’m organising this fundraising for my dear friends Binny and Neil. Binny has a number of chronic illnesses and Neil is not only her brother, but was also her carer until recently - now Neil has been given 18mths due to a rare and aggressive cancer! Neil and Binny are two of the most humble, gentle, genuine and gorgeous people who ask for nothing for them selves but are always there to give to others! This is our chance to support them and give back! So this is Neil’s story as told by his sister, Binny. ❤️❤️

Hello everyone…

As most of you are now aware in April 2022 Neil suddenly became unwell and we quickly realised something wasn’t right so headed to Bundaberg and straight to the ER from there to The Wesley hospital in Brisbane . They operated on Neil the next day he had a tumour in his bile duct .

This began a journey of ‘CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA’ cancer …bile duct cancer.

The 9hr surgery bought many risks which unfortunately Neil did have a few along the way including spending time in a coma. After 36 days we could come home and he started chemo.

In December he had another surgery to repair a hernia and we were so pleased there was no evidence of cancer.

Slowly life started improving a little at a time. Another scan and bloodwork at the end of April 2023 was all clear we were so excited and started planning how to start having time away in our caravan.

We started commencing renovations on the exterior and yard of our home once Neil gained back some strength.

June 2023 Neil had his usual monthly bloodwork which showed worrying numbers and things moved fast …scans and more blood work. Neil became unwell so we got to Brisbane ASAP and they admitted him into The Wesley Hospital .

More tests,scopes and lots of waiting .

On Monday 10th July 2023 …the results confirmed the cancer was not only back but now inoperable …stage 4 . He has a tumour in his liver the size of a lemon plus it’s also cancer now within the abdomen.

We are beyond devastated trying to navigate a path through so that we can give Neil every opportunity to fight this beast of a cancer.

Neil as we know never likes to ask for ‘help’ he would be extremely embarrassed I am doing this but I believe he deserves the help and support … he expressed to me that somehow he would like to live to see the house finished . There are jobs that he won’t have the strength for whilst undergoing liver drainage/stent procedures as well as radiation/chemo.

We have had to some of the hardest conversations and one of Neil’s biggest wish is to live long enough to see the house exterior/yard finished and hopefully get some travel time.

I really would like to help make this one wish come true for him…

But as Neil sadly said to me this week it’s expensive to die so finishing the house may not be possible even with him selling his beloved boat and caravan.

I just really want the house finished he deserves something good . I also know he will need a few changes to getting up into the house e.g ramp instead of stairs down the track.

He is a true gentleman with a kind soul and has always helped others .

Neil took me under his wing and has been my part time carer who has always stood by my side whether at hospital,GP appointments and home care when needed. So with roles reversed I would like to look after him the best I can.

We don’t know all the details but without treatment the odds are 6mths to live so Neil isn’t going down without a fight and has decided he will be going on palliative chemo which hopefully give him a chance at beating the statistics of living for longer than the 18mths .

Dr Pranavan(the most amazing human being ) and the team have also decided to try radiation for the next 5wks in hope the liver tumour may stop getting bigger as it’s blocking the main duct in the liver. Neil is still in hospital as he is in a lot of pain following procedures to his liver and they are also trying to get him comfortable and stable.

Bile Duct cancer is rare and aggressive. It grows at a rapid pace and life expectancy isn’t long.

Under 900 people in Australia are diagnosed each year.

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to read this …even if you are unable to donate which I truly understand…please feel free to talk amongst family and friends so that this cancer gets noticed …talked about and adequate funding gets thrown it’s way. We need to find a medical treatment that can offer hope and a longer life expectancy.

No one fights alone

Kindest regards

Binny