Hi my name is Ethan, I'm 25 years old and a proud father of a little boy.
It has taken me to swallow my pride and ask for help which is something I'm not good at doing.
I have been told I only have a few years left of life and I'd love some support in order to make some memories with my family before I go (something for my little boy to always remember)
Here's a little back story...
When I was around 10 years old I suffered with bad leg cramps, when going to the Dr's and hospital etc they put it down to growing pains and I had 5 years of physio.
The pain got so bad that they sent me for an mri scan, this is where they found a mass on my lower spine.
I was diagnosed with a meningioma (brain tumour) on my spine which is quite rare, I was sent for surgery at addenbrooks hospital where I was operated on for 8 hours. Once the op was done I had 6 months of relearning to walk again. The consultant said the tumour could possibly grow back within 5-10 years.
I had regular scans and within a year the tumour had grown back again. I then had intense radiotherapy, every day for 6 weeks.
The tumour was at a standstill, the radiotherapy hadn't done much but it was now dormant. I was only young and to take all this on played with my mental health ALOT, I was sectioned in 2014.
I met my partner and then had my miracle baby boy in October 2018
In August 2019 the tumour had grown again and again I needed 6 weeks of intense radiotherapy (this time at addenbrooks).
The radiotherapy didn't do much, just stumped the tumour.
Whilst all these events were going on I was still in severe pain with my back, legs and mental health.
I have to use a walking aid to get around and a mobility scooter on my bad days.
In 2020 the tumour became active again, growing very slowly.
In 2021 because of severe pain addenbrooks had offered me another operation, when I had a pre op with the surgeon, he advised me that if I was to go ahead with the operation that it would be a high chance that I would loose my bowel, bladder and all sexual functions and high chance i would end up permanently in a wheelchair (being a 24 year old at the time, to have a bag and not be able to walk etc was the last thing I wanted!!) The surgeon made a decision to manage my pain and not operate until he felt he needed too.
In May 2022 I bent over slightly to place a dog bed onto the floor and I felt and heard a pop, I was in so much pain and couldn't move, after a visit to a&e I had yet another scan it was shown that my tumour had grown again.
I was sent up to addenbrooks to talk with my surgeon which is where he told me that my tumour had grown rapidly in the last year, it's grown up my spine, down my spine and into my bone and there is nothing more they can do for me now. My emotions were all over the place as expected, all I could think of was my little boy.
I was then referred to St Elizabeth's Hospice where I will be getting palative care, when I was there I asked them what the road map of my life looks like in which they said we are looking at 1-2years, 2 years being good, it won't be the cancer that 'kills' me as such but what the tumour effects ie-organs etc. I was asked questions that I still can not answer (do i want to die at home, funeral plans etc) I am broken, but strong and positive for my little boy. I hope I can prove the Dr's wrong and have a few more years left in me but I really do need you guys help to help and support me to make memories for my little one.
Big love to everyone. ❤️