Lisburn woman launches Go Fund Me appeal to help her partner battle terminal cancer
Lisburn woman Courtney McCaughey has launched an urgent appeal to raise money for specialist treatment for her boyfriend William, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer at the age of just 20.
Courtney has set up a Go Fund Me page in the hope of raising £15,000 to enable William to undergo specialist treatment, as well as to fund an electric wheelchair.
On January 10 William went to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast to receive a CT scan where he was told they have seen something and he would be kept in.
Courtney explained: "William spent two nights on a trolley in a corridor then a week in the Royal until he got a MRI to be told he has a tumour on his brain.
"We as a family spent a full week hoping and praying for it to be a benign tumour or at least treatable.
"However on January 25 we were sat in a room and told the words no family wants to hear.
"William was diagnosed with terminal Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). This cancer is extremely rare in adults as it affects young children.
"As a partner I was utterly devastated with William’s diagnosis.
"We have known each other since we were four. We went to the same nursery and primary school and had the same friend circle throughout the years. We met again and have been together ever since for six years.
"We both had plans to get married and have our own family and explore the world but since then I have spent every hour and every day with him by his side in hospital and Marie Curie Hospice or relentlessly searching for something that could be done.”
Unfortunately surgery isn’t an option for William due to where the tumour is located so Courtney and his family are looking for alternative treatments but that comes at a cost.
She is hoping the local community will come together to support the appeal and raise funds for treatment.
Donations can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/Fighting-against-terminal-cancer
“William has honestly been so strong throughout this, coping with all the symptoms and going through physiotherapy to get to were he is now.,” Courtney continued.
"I couldn’t tell you how proud I am to see him come from the darkest place possible to keeping his head up and battling through this.
"Everyone that has known about William’s diagnosis from the start has been unbelievable and their support has been very much appreciated and hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“William’s friend Ashley found an alternative medicine which has helped many other cancer patients.
"William has been taking this ever since he finished radiotherapy however it costs Ashley £600 to get this ordered and this is simply not cost effective for anyone to be getting on daily basis.
“We are trying to get funds to accommodate an electric wheelchair along with the other alternative medicine he has been taking.
"I am asking all family, friends and wider circle if anyone can help us with donations. Big or small is greatly appreciated.
"Everyone knows William as a strong, funny, confident lad and that is what he will continue to be. He will never let cancer define him,” Courtney added.