Help us Raise for Rod

Our best mate from University (Harper Adams) was diagnosed with a Chordoma in 2006. A Chordoma is a tumour that can occur anywhere within the spine or the base of the skull. In Rod's case this turned out to be a tumour the size of a grapefruit which had been growing without any symptoms for 27 years!

He underwent major (18hr) surgery at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge on 6th January 2006 where the majority of the tumour was removed. He spent the next 6 months recovering and undergoing fractionated radiotherapy (75 Gy) .

As part of his surgery, the nerves connecting his right eye were damaged, leading to him losing a significant amount of vision and control, therefore requiring him to wear an eyepatch on a permanent basis. He has also been deaf in his right ear since he was 14 years old (thought to all be connected with the slow growth of the Chordoma).

Rod showed incredible strength and bravery in 2006 and he went back to work as a Land Agent after just 6 months. He has worked for the same private estate in Warwickshire ever since and has devoted himself to his work, his wife, his friends, family and his love of farming, country pursuits, dogs and old red (pink!) Land Rovers.

In September 2024, following an increase in his facial palsy he underwent further scans which unfortunately revealed that the Chordoma is back and has been growing unchecked for several years. It is growing in a place which is causing some compression on his brainstem and other vital areas of the skull cavity. He is scheduled to undergo major surgery again very soon which will almost certainly result in a loss of function in his lower cranial nerves which will affect his swallowing and speech. He will almost certainly require a temporary (possibly permanent) tracheostomy and feeding tube. In addition, he is at risk of a stroke as the major arteries run close to the Chordoma being removed.

Assuming the surgery goes as well as planned, Rod is at significant risk of developing craniocervical junction instability which means he might have to have part of his spine pinned together. This will have implications for whether he can have radiotherapy.

We want to raise over £1,000 to help with travel and accommodation costs for his surgery, radiotherapy and recovery.

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UPDATE 31.12.24

Firstly can I say a HUGE THANK YOU on behalf of the entire fundraising team. We could never have imagined we would smash our first target of £1,000 and then the next of of £2,000 and then £3,500 and £5,000. We are well on our way to meeting the new target of £6,250 so please keep sharing this far and wide and keep giving what you can.

Sorry for not posting an update, it has been a really busy time with everything going on, however I was lucky enough to drive down to Cambridge yesterday and I got to see Rod for the first time after his 13 hour surgery on 25th November. The surgery itself seems to have gone well, however it was immensely complex, involving both Neurology and ENT disciplines. Rod was kept under anaesthetic until the afternoon of the 26th November and then brought round slowly; thankfully he was able to breath on his own and didn’t need the tracheostomy he was so fearful of.

Over the course of the next few weeks, Rod continued to improve and his swallowing was getting better and better, finally allowing for his nasal feeding tube to be removed. His first proper meal in over 4 weeks was a fish pie, mash and peas which he absolutely demolished! 😊

After a fairly jolly Christmas Day spent on the ward, on Boxing Day Rod developed a severe infection, possibly linked to complications in his right ear. We all thought we might lose him, however after giving him enough antibiotics to knock out an elephant he bounced back (these Yorkshire folk are made of tough stuff!)

Your donations have helped so much, and over £4k so far has been spent on paying for short term accommodation for Rod’s wife Kate and his friends, family and supporters, sitting beside Rod for hours and hours, willing him to get better and better.

There is still a long way to go, and Rod will most likely be in hospital for a few more weeks and when he is allowed to go home he will need to travel for radiotherapy, so please keep sharing this page and donate what you can.

Thank you all again for your donations, messages, thoughts and prayers.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2025…let’s get Rod home soon!