Rachel's White Collar Challenge for Cancer Research

Rachel Stannard is raising money for Cancer Research UK
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Norwich White Collar Boxing 1st April 2017 · 1 April 2017 to 1 May 2017 ·

We‘re the world‘s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving and improving lives through research. We fund research into the prevention, detection and treatment of more than 200 types of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.

Story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am taking part in the White Collar boxing event after experiencing first hand the devastating effects that cancer can have on bith the patients and their families.

My daughter Paige became ill last year, initially experiencing headaches which began in March, then having a seizure at the end of April which was misdiagnosed as 'fainting'. 3 days after her first seizure while in training for her new job, she experienced a full seizure, losing consciousness and her body convulsing. Our doctors made an immediate referral to the Neurology department for which we had an anxious 6 week wait for an appointment. In this time seizures became practically a daily occurence. Initial observations didnt flag up any concerns so tests were arranged. MRI, EEG, ECG. Another 6 week wait ensued and on the 4th July an MRI was performed. A visit to the neurologist on the 8th July gave us the devastating news that Paige had a 4cm fast growing tumour in the front left temporal lobe of her brain. The pressure of which was causing her seizues.

An immediate referral was made to Addenbrookes hospital and 17 days later on the 25th July, Paige had surgery. A full craniotomy was performed to remove the tumour for which Paige was wide awake as surgeons needed Paige to be coherent during surgery due to the location of the tumour and the long lasting effects she could experience post surgery if particular brain cells were damaged.

Surgery was a success! 100% tumour was removed and it was over!! Or so we thought!

10 days later on her follow up consultation, we were informed that Paige had a grade 4 incurable and recurring Glioblastoma Multiforme. (GBM) Brain cancer!! This is one of the most aggressive types of brain tumour with the cancer threading into the surrounding brain tissue. LIfe expectancy is an average of 14-18 months from diagnosis and we were informed that treatment was to prolong.. not save.. my baby girls life. Imagine our devastation! 

A treatment plan of radiotherapy 5 days per week and chemotherapy 7 days per week for 6 weeks followed. This was a gruelling time for Paige and for us as a family, although Paiges acceptance that her young life was going to end and her coping mechanism amazes me still to this day.

During treatment we discussed her funeral arrangements, her end of life wishes. Discussions no parent should have to have with her child. I had to come to terms with the fact that i would need to say goodbye to my baby girl. Not to mention the effects this had in her sister, her 2 nephews who Paige dotes on and other close family and friends who have been an amazing strength over the past 10 months.

Paige had a 4 week break after the initial 6 weeks of treatment in which time, on the 4th November an MRI was performed so that we could see if the treatment had worked in reducing cancer cells. I remember walking into the consultants office full of dread. Waiting to hear how many months my daughter had to live. A very emotional consultant gladly informed us that right now.. Paige is cancer free!! Less than 2.5% of GBM patients recieve this amazing news. Dont get me wrong. She is not cured. GbM WILL come back. We just dont know when or where. How much time we have is anybodies guess, so we take life day by day, week by week, month by month, MRI by MRI. Creating memories along the way. And living!!. She has ongoing issues as a result of damage caused to her brain but these are minor in comparison to what we were facing.

This is my reason for taking part in the Ultra White Collar event to raise invaluable funds for cancer research. Training has already began and i can assure you guys!! Its tough!! So I urge you all to please show your support by donating and sharing my page to make this challenge worthwhile. 

Thank you all in advance for your support and generosity!! Lets kick cancers ass!!

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Donation summary

Total
£711.49
+ £78.75 Gift Aid
Online
£711.49
Offline
£0.00

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