“It’s been incredibly overwhelming for all of us, we’ve been dealing with hospitals and specialists and rallying around to do everything we possibly can to give him the best chance.”
In 2014 Wayne beat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common and aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with chemotherapy, radiation and major spinal surgery.
It returned in 2021, and he beat it again with more treatment, including a stem cell transplant.
In April this year, he went to hospital with worsening abdominal pain, and scans showed a large abdominal mass, with cancer in his intestines, liver, spleen, chest and lungs.
Despite the “very aggressive” cancer, the family is hopeful he’ll beat it again.
“Twice he’s fought back, and he will again,” Corrinne said.
She said his specialists believe Car T-cell [Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell] therapy is her father’s best option, but it is not available in New Zealand.
While Wayne is on “bridging” chemotherapy, the family is urgently raising funds for treatment in Shanghai, China.
They have created a Givealittle page to help cover treatment, hospital and travel costs.
“Dad has already started emergency chemotherapy to keep him stable long enough to reach treatment overseas.
“We need to get him the Car T-cell therapy as soon as possible.”
Corrinne said New Zealand treatment pathways are “not moving quickly enough” for the progression of her dad’s disease.
While New Zealand is running domestic clinical trials for Car T-cell therapy – a revolutionary cancer treatment that genetically reprogrammes a patient’s immune cells to hunt and destroy cancer cells – it is not available as a standard publicly-funded treatment.
Overseas treatment costs are estimated to start at about $500,000, excluding flights, accommodation, ongoing medical costs, specialist consultations, medications and extended hospital stays.
“Dad is on the waiting list for the trial, but we don’t have a confirmed date,” Corrine said.
“We were advised ... it could be July which is too long for us.
“We’re hoping to raise enough to get over there.
“We’re doing our best to raise as much as possible in the smallest time frame possible.”
Corrinne, the eldest daughter who lives in Auckland, said recent test results showed her dad is a strong candidate for treatment in Shanghai.
The family is now urgently co-ordinating travel, hospital, and treatment plans for the coming weeks.
More than $9000 has been raised in five days.
Corrinne said the family is grateful for all donations that have come in so far.
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.
