Fighting for more time
A Rangitikei father’s five-year battle against an aggressive form of brain cancer has him in a fight for his life.
Ryan Boerboom, 48, has exhausted all treatment options after a debilitating seizure in 2012 revealed an inoperable brain tumour.
The man from Marton, near Palmerston North, wants to spend more time with his three children, but it comes with a $50,000 price tag.
With chemotherapy no longer working and surgeons unable to operate, his only option is a nonfunded medicine called Avastin.
The medication is used to treat several types of cancer and is on the World Health Organisation’s list of essential medicines.
It is given by slow injection into a vein, but costs about $880 per vial.
Boerboom will need one dose every two weeks for the rest of his life – however long that may be.
While slowing the growth of the tumour, the treatment will not cure him or affect his chance of survival.
‘‘We’re just trying to give him some more time... that’s all,’’ his sister Jodie Penn said.
Next week, the community will rally together at the Memorial Hall for the Boerboom Gala Day.
‘‘It’s a great area, Marton,’’ he said. ‘‘This treatment will save my life. It’s all I’ve got left.
‘‘I’ve lived in [other areas] and they would have never been this giving.’’
Initially, chemotherapy and radiation treatment helped the former engineer return to work as an in-home early childhood educator.
But, the headaches returned a year later and a second tumour was discovered.
The tumour’s location inside the brain allowed surgeons to operate, but it returned in January and cannot be removed.
Boerboom was not letting a grim outlook consume him.
‘‘I don’t look at it that way. Yes
"This treatment will save my life. It's all I've got left." Ryan Boerboom
I’ve been sick, but it’s just like having a cold,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m still out doing things – I ride my bike and walk my dog. I try to keep it business as usual.’’
Despite trying to maintain a familiar routine, his lifestyle has changed dramatically. Everything from his eating habits to sleeping patterns has changed.
In the battle against cancer, it was the little wins that mattered – Sunday night was the first in five years he hadn’t taken a sleeping pill.
‘‘I laid down, did some reading and fell asleep. I haven’t been able to do that in years.
‘‘When I woke up it was 5.30am... I was pretty excited about that.’’
His family started a Givealittle page which has raised about $18,000 to help with the cost of his treatment.
They are hoping a gala organised by Boerboom’s former employer Porse childcare would add to that fund.
Consultant Donna Hyland said he was a ‘‘very special’’ educator.
‘‘Ryan and his children need more time together. They are far too young to lose their dad and plan on making many more lasting memories.’’
Boerboom had a ‘‘real zest’’ for life and he constantly stunned people with his positivity, Hyland said.