"PLEASE help save my brother’s life". Those are the words of a loving sister after her brother was diagnosed with a stage four brain tumour.
St Helens Council worker Stephen Mayer discovered he had glioblastoma in August after his partner found him unresponsive on the sofa at home and called for an ambulance.
He was initially misdiagnosed as having a stroke and brain inflammation before numerous further tests revealed the devastating diagnosis.
In February 2024, Clatterbridge Hospital informed dad-of-four Stephen that the tumour had progressed to half his brain and that he could have one or two months to live.
However, his sister Michelle Parkinson has found a consultant, Dr Ashkan in London who will operate.
Michelle, 62, from Ashton-in-Makerfield, said: “They basically told us to accept this condition and wait, we can’t do that. My brother is 59, it is too young to die.
“A consultant in London has had success treating other tumours like this using LITT, which is laser surgery to accurately remove the tumour as it grows like fingers into the brain, but it is not available on the NHS.
“Because of this, the surgery costs £50,000 and if Clatterbridge are right we are running out of time.
“This is now looking to be our only option, so I therefore ask you if you can, please help save my brother’s life.
“My brother is a 6ft tall hard-working granddad to three children, a proud dad and very loved.
“He doesn’t deserve this and we need as much help as possible and we need it quickly. He’s too young to let this horrible disease take him.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Stephen’s treatment, and in four days more than £6,000 has been raised.
To donate go to gofundme.com/f/stephen-mayers-litt-treatment-at-kings-college-hos
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