*** WE HAD A LITTLE HICCUP WITH THIS CROWDFUNDING PAGE WHICH HAS MEANT THAT WE'VE HAD TO START A NEW PAGE TO RAISE THE REMAINING TARGET - THE MONEY DONATED SO FAR BY SO MANY GENEROUS AND BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS, FAMILY AND PEOPLE WE HAVENT MET YET IS SAFE AND WE CONTINUE TO BE SO TOUCHED AND GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE PART OF A HUGE FUNDRAISING EFFORT TO HELP STUART.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH UPDATED OUR NEW PAGE IS:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stuart-esther

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE xx

Update: (Please read)

If you are new to this page then please read the ‘ORIGINAL MESSAGE’ lower down on this page for context first, but if you are already a supporter of Stuart and aware of his situation, please read on.

It’s fair to say that what started off as a wonderful year, leaving the crazy year of 2020 behind and seeing the new year in with a 'cheers', since the end of January Stuart and his wife Esther’s lives have been on a giant rollercoaster, with treatment plans, diet changes and alternative therapy/medicine appointments, all whilst still coming to terms with the magnitude of the situation and the fight that lies ahead.

Although doctors and Stuart's medical team are pleased with the progress Stuart's made in how he's responded to his initial phase of chemo / radiotherapy, it is sadly a fact that this approach alone will not eradicate what we had all hoped.

THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY, please read on…

As you can imagine, Esther along with their families & close friends have been tirelessly researching alternative options available, reaching out to specialists across the globe to find out what can be used (alongside and integrated with the fantastic treatment he is receiving from the NHS oncology team) to help prolong Stuart's life and treat this disgusting disease.

Stu has now completed his 6 weeks of intense radiotherapy to his brain along with Temozolomide chemotherapy & is currently on a 4 week break before he starts his next round of intense chemo, so it's time for us to act now. We have no time to lose...

Against the odds, we have discovered some remarkable treatments that have helped many people who have the same cancer as Stu and are now in remission. One involves DNA sequencing only available in a clinic in Germany, to produce a bespoke peptide immunotherapy vaccine to essentially give his own body a supercharge and the best possible chance to fight this disease from the inside.

Unfortunately, this treatment, alongside others are not covered by our NHS and come at a high cost. For the evaluation of the biopsy the cost is 10,000 euros. After this the treatment itself is 47,000 euros. This is where we come in!

This ‘Just Giving’ page was started up as a way to take some financial pressure off Stu and Esther whilst they are unable to work. Esther and Stu are truly overwhelmed by the support and Stuart, in particular, couldn’t comprehend the kindness and generosity shown towards him.

However, the game has now changed, and we need your support more than ever!

As a group of friends, family, and well-wishers, can we all dig a little bit deeper and give whatever we can towards a new total with a new objective that will allow for this treatment alongside a few others to happen?

Once again, please donate whatever you can and critically PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE far and wide, on social media, text message, WhatsApp, word of mouth… everywhere!

This is our chance to offer just a little bit more help to the most incredible man and remarkable couple.

Stuart is a wonderful son, brother, husband, uncle, cousin and a friend to many. He is so funny, intelligent and above all the most caring & genuine man (not to mention a great handy man).

Finally, as if this were not incentive enough to donate, Stuart and Esther have started IVF treatment to bring a baby Bathers into this world, to be able to continue with their life plans and give them a positive focus for the future. We hope the treatments planned along with your support will enable Stuart's fight to continue, so he is able to create the happy memories that were always planned for them both in starting and raising a family.

A Facebook page and Instagram account have been created so that you can track Stuarts’ treatments and progress, but also as a way of sharing the immense amount of information and research that Esther, Stuart’s sister Laura and others have discovered and that is largely unknown, in a hope this may help others going through their own similar and difficult journey. Follow https://www.facebook.com/Blasting-the-Glioblastoma-Stuarts-Story-100391318817365/ to keep updated.

Instagram: bathers.beats.cancer

‘When it is darkest, those we love give us light!’

Thank you so much in anticipation of your support, it could really make all the difference....THANK YOU!

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

You may be aware that in January, Stuart (age 39) was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. It came completely out of the blue and has turned their world upside down.

What started as head aches and confusion, quickly developed into stroke type symptoms and then on 24th January following MRI scans and a tumour being identified, it was diagnosed as a stage 4 Glioblastoma.

Initial treatment plans have had to change quickly due to its aggressive nature and whilst an operation now isn't practical at the minute, Stu has started chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink this to then review the options asap.

The sheer bravery and determination shown by Stu and Esther is staggering. They decided to get married, giving them both something positive to focus on, both now and in the weeks and months ahead. Their wedding was quickly planned and prepared (in just 36 hours!) and they had an amazing day, but even their wedding night was not theirs to celebrate as Stu had to go back into Southmead hospital to have a biopsy taken straight after the ceremony.

Whilst Stu & Esther (the now Mr & Mrs Bathers) are working tirelessly with doctors and their teams and are optimistic, treatment is going to be tough and prolonged and will mean that they won't be able to work as they would normally for some time to come.

A thought was that maybe their friends and family can do our bit and offer some help by contributing to a fund to cover some living expenses to help take the pressure off this amazing couple and let Stu concentrate on his treatment and recovery.

Stuart and Esther have been blown away by the well wishes, prayers and kind gestures from everyone. 'When it is darkest, those we love give us light'

Understandably this is a delicate situation but PLEASE donate what you can (anonymously if you wish) and remember to share the link!