By Sadly, David, 46, diagnosis is terminal and he now requires life-long treatment which is available in Germany, but not through the NHS or in the UK.
In England, the standard approved treatment is a 6 week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, followed by 6 months of chemo after that.
The ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment creates personalised immune therapy and strengthens the patients own immune system and activates against new cancer cell growth, as well as giving the best possible quality of life. The results of the initial trial are really positive and are extending the overall survival rate for people like David.
Speaking to Gi Media, David’s wife Nicki said that the family had had to do lots of research themselves via Facebook groups. She said “As a family we had to do lots of research ourselves, like many families nationwide by joining Facebook groups and reading off each other’s information. We will try anything at this stage just to keep making memories.
David
“It’s bad enough trying to cope with the terminal diagnosis but Covid challenges on top of everything are making things harder.” she added.
David’s situation is further complicated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the complex travel restrictions it has resulted in. Nicki explained how they would have to get approval to go to Germany through police and boarder control. He and Nicki would also require multiple Covid tests along their journey, which have proved incredibly expensive.
Sadly, due to David’s terminal diagnosis he will require life-long treatment which is only at this stage available in Germany.
Due to Covid this has meant that travel restrictions have proven difficult David to just jump on a plane for treatment. Wife Nicki explained how they have to get approval to go to Germany through police and boarder control.
Nicki went on to say how “expensive the Covid tests are in order for David to be able to fly. It’s bad enough trying to cope with the terminal diagnosis but Covid challenges on top of everything are making things harder.”
David and Nicki
She explained the toll that the combined impact of the pandemic and the diagnosis had taken on their family, including children Dylan Lydia, and Sydney adding: “It’s been really hard and as a family we just have to take it a day at a time and don’t make many plans into the future.
“All David wants to do is spend time with family, Dylan recently bought a house which David would love to help with, Sydney is only 9 and he wants to see her grow up and make memories. David also wants to be able to start and play badminton again with Lydia when they are allowed. Wednesdays were always their time together.
“Our whole world has turns upside down and we don’t think about future too much right now. We have holidays planned but we don’t know if Covid will allow us to go make the memories.”
Hopkins Family
Holly Mumby-Croft has helped take this story to parliament and raise awareness of brain tumours and how hard it is for people to get the treatment they vitally need.
Follow the Team Hopkins journey and help raise awareness https://www.facebook.com/groups/207668437627195
Go Fund Me page to help raise funds can be found on the link below:
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Email us: scunthorpenews@gi-media.co.uk
