PLEASE HELP US GET MORE PRECIOUS TIME WITH DAUGHTER WE LOVE
£100,000 APPEAL LAUNCHED TO PAY FOR MEDICINES THAT COULD EXTEND KIRSTIE’S LIFE
A MUM is trying to raise £100,000 to pay for drugs that could extend her daughter’s life, writes Adrian Troughton.
Kirstie Hull has an aggressive cancer which has spread around her body.
Mum Amanda, of Mountsorrel, said: “We have no choice. This is about raising money so we can have some more precious time with the daughter we love.”
A MUM has set up an appeal to raise £100,000 to try to prolong her daughter’s life.
Doctors have said there is little they can do to combat the aggressive cancer which has spread around Kirstie Hull’s body.
But her mother Amanda has not given up the fight and is trying to raise the money to pay for private treatment.
“This isn’t about finding her a cure,” said Amanda. “This is about raising money so we can have some more precious time with the daughter we love.”
The family’s nightmare began three years ago. “In January 2018, we got the news no family wants to hear,” said Amanda.
“At 24, Kirstie was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, which had already spread to her bones and liver.
“Kirstie’s melanoma has a BRAF positive gene, which means the cancer would resist most treatments and spread more rapidly.
“She had major surgery straight away to remove a tumour and went on targeted treatment, which worked really well for two years.”
In October 2019 scans showed no sign of Kirstie’s cancer.
“It was wonderful. We were delighted,” said Amanda, of Mountsorrel. “I was always worried at the back of my mind the cancer might return but it was very positive news.”
Then the family were dealt a cruel blow. “On the very week of the national lockdown, we found out the cancer had reappeared and also spread to Kirstie’s lymph nodes,” said Amanda, 52.
“The treatment that had worked so well for two years was stopped.
“Instead, she started regular intravenous immunotherapy in the middle of the pandemic
“We were able to celebrate Kirstie’s 27th birthday in July, with a lovely but socially-distanced family afternoon tea with cream cakes and the works.
“But shortly after, she started to notice problems with her eyesight.
“After an MRI scan, we were all devastated to find out the cancer had spread again, and this time was pressing on her optic nerve.
“On top of everything else Kirstie had fought through, she then had to undergo an incredibly stressful and intense targeted round of radiotherapy.”
The strain of the Covid-19 pandemic on the NHS caused delays in her routine scans.
Then, last month, there was yet more bad news.
“After waiting weeks for results, we found out on December 14 the cancer had progressed further and, as a result, Kirstie’s treatment was withdrawn,” said Amanda. “This left her with no other treatment options available through the NHS.
“Two potentially life-changing treatments, Encorafenib and Binimetinib, are available privately but cost upwards of £100,000 per year.”
Amanda, husband Chris, daughter Becca and her boyfriend Anjay have set up a gofundme appeal.
“I know it is an awful lot to ask of people but we have no choice,” said Amanda.
“We are trying to do our best to have more time with Kirstie and would be very grateful for any help people can give us.
“Kirstie and her boyfriend Matt, whom she has been with for twoand-a-half years, got engaged on Christmas Eve, so that provided some joy among all the bad news.
“We don’t know what the future will bring but we as a family will do all we can to keep Kirstie here as long as we can.
“We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who’s donated, shared and supported us so far.
“We’re completely overwhelmed to have already reached over £20,000.”
For details of a fund-raising auction, see: