Pathhead family's fundraising for tumour treatment
A GRANDMOTHER from Pathhead is appealing for help to send her grandson to America for life-saving treatment.
Isa Bell's 13-year-old grandson, Brandon, has a rare brain tumour and the family is aiming to raise 70,000 by next week to pay for proton therapy treatment, which is not available in the UK.
A total of 60,000 has been raised in just three weeks, with a further 10,000 left to raise to pay for Brandon's eight-week treatment at the Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, Florida. The family will also have to cover the cost of travelling to America and medication following the treatment.
In an incredible twist of fate, it was Brandon's own mother who first spotted that he could be suffering from a brain tumour.
Sara (38) is a therapeutic radiography student at Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh. She had been studying the rare condition and recognised the symptoms when Brandon complained of headaches, tiredness and blurred vision.
Sara told the Advertiser: "I'm a second year university student. I was studying brain tumours and recognised the symptoms. Brandon got diagnosed on the Monday and I was due to sit my exam on the Tuesday. I think it was a bit of fate - I had been accepted at Glasgow University to do earth science but changed my mind at the last minute."
Having alerted doctors to her suspicions, Brandon was diagosed with the very type of tumour she had been studying.
He underwent 10 hours of brain surgery in May to remove most of the chraniophyrngioma but the remaining part of the tumour could mean he loses his sight and could threaten his life if he does not receive further treatment.
Doctors have agreed that proton therapy is the best treatment for Brandon. It is much more effective than radiotherapy and causes less damage to the brain, reducing side effects such as hormonal problems and learning difficulties and secondary tumours in later life – but funding was refused by the NHS.
His grandmother Isa (86), who lives in Crichton Drive, Pathhead, said: "I'm absolutely overwhelmed by the response. I wish I had the money myself but everybody has been so generous. This is the best treatment Brandon can get."
Anyone who wants to help Brandon receive the proton therapy treatment can contact the family at 36 Dunrobin Road, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ML6 8LR or call 01236 607871 or 07576559918.
Alternatively, email bellfamily94@blueyonder.co.uk or donate money through a paypal account set up with that address, or make a donation to "Brandon Bell Fund / G Wall" at any RBS branch using sort code 163126 and account number 10288040.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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