More than $100k raised in 48 hours in fight to save Kiwi father

Multimedia Journalist·NZ Herald·

3 Sep, 2018 05:57 AM3 mins to read

NOW PLAYING • Focus: Young family's cancer battle

Kurt Brunton is fighting Cancer and has one last chance of survival but needs treatment in the US at a cost of $1.5 million ...

More than $100,000 has been raised in the past 48 hours in the fight to save a young Auckland father's life.

A Givealittle page was created on Saturday for 41-year-old Kurt Brunton who needs up to $1.5 million by the end of the month in order to get a life-saving treatment in the United States.

Brunton was diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood cancer in January and two weeks ago his New Zealand doctors were prepping him for palliative care.

On the family's own accord, they discovered a ground-breaking CAR-T immunotherapy treatment - dubbed "miracle cure for terminal blood cancer" on Google.

Today, the Herald visited Brunton and his wife Janelle Brunton-Rennie and their 1-year-old daughter Sage.

Shaking as he spoke, Brunton said it was just "unbelievable" that strangers were willing to help save his life.

"It's incredible and we are just so grateful for the immense generosity people are willing to give. Every time we look it has gone up."

On the day of his third wedding anniversary in January he discovered a hard lump on his abdomen.

With no prior health concerns, he decided to take no risks and booked an appointment with his doctor that afternoon.

Initially his prognosis was positive, with doctors giving him a 90 per cent chance of beating the disease but eight months down the track his survival rate has dropped to 10 per cent.

Brunton's body rejected chemotherapy and stem cell treatment was no longer an option.

"The only chance we have left is an immunotherapy trial in the US but we are in a race against time," Brunton-Rennie said.

The ground-breaking CAR-T treatment is yet to surface in New Zealand but clinical trials are being held in Boston in the United States.

The way the treatment works is the immune cells - known as the T cells - are taken out and are genetically engineered into "killer cells" which takes around three weeks before they are inserted back into the blood.

All together, Brunton-Rennie said he would spend around six weeks in hospital.

Through an "absolute miracle" Brunton has been booked in for a consultation next week but an upfront payment is needed by the end of the month.

For international patients the treatment costed NZ$1.2m with other medical bills expected, plus flights and accommodation.

"We are willing to sell our house, cars and everything we own to get Kurt that treatment. We have no choice, he will get there," Brunton-Rennie said.