Laura Potter, 35, from Bromsgrove, has launched a crowdfunder to fund potentially life-saving treatment for her mother Christine Woodus, 60, who has stage four bowel cancer. The mother-of-two has already lost her dad and brother to the illness, and is now desperate to prevent a third family tragedy.
Christine, who also lives in Bromsgrove, has had 40 per cent of her bowel and around half her liver removed. She is registered disabled and has limited NHS treatment options. The family is seeking treatment at the Hallwang Clinic in Hallwangen, Germany, which could cost an initial £78,000, rising to more than £100,000. A GoFundMe page has raised more than £2,000 towards the first target of £12,000.
A Family Devastated by Cancer
Laura's father Steven died of a brain tumour aged 46. Just 18 months later, her brother Jake Nightingale died of leukaemia aged 22 in 2016. Laura collected Jake's University of Birmingham degree on his behalf and named her youngest son after him.
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Laura said: "I'm desperate to save my mum. Imagine losing your whole family by 35? When my dad was 46 he died of a brain tumour and that was terminal from day one. Then 18 months later my brother died of leukaemia at 22 in 2016. I collected his degree on his behalf when he graduated from the University of Birmingham. Since I've been 20 this is all I've known."
Diagnosis and Limited NHS Options
Laura was 17 weeks pregnant with her second son when her mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer two years ago. Christine had 40 per cent of her bowel removed and underwent chemotherapy. Doctors initially said the cancer was gone, but less than a year later it returned in her liver.
"Mom had a huge operation and 40 to 50 per cent of her liver removed and was in intensive care," Laura said. "Six weeks later her symptoms came back which was itching on her back. It was in her liver, ovaries and back in her bowel. So she had to go back on chemotherapy. But it hasn't done anything."
Seeking Treatment in Germany
Laura left her recruitment managerial role of 12 years to become Christine's full-time carer. She said: "I left my job because I've lost my dad, I've lost my brother. I've been through this twice already. I wanted to spend as much time with my mum and caring for mum."
Laura explained that chemotherapy had limited success and that removing her mum's bowel could be fatal due to her low immune system. She has been researching alternative treatments, including at the Hallwang Clinic, where doctors remove part of the tumour and test it to determine which treatment responds to the patient's specific gene mutation.
"In the UK, if you have cancer you'll get the first line treatment to treat that particular cancer," Laura said. "But at a clinic we found in Germany, they remove part of the tumour and test it to see what sort of treatment responds to your specific gene mutation. There is a lot of success stories about people who have gone to Germany with all sorts of cancers."
Appeal for Donations
In a post on GoFundMe, Laura wrote: "I'm asking for your help to save my mom's life. My mom is the most amazing mother, wife and Nanny and we are not ready to say goodbye. My mom has been battling bowel cancer now for almost four years, it has unfortunately spread to multiple other organs and after chasing it around undergoing multiple surgeries and a lot of chemotherapy we just simply have no more options here in the UK."
She added: "The initial treatment will come at a cost of over £100,000 and will likely be much more as well as travel and accommodation costs. Any donation big or small will give us a chance to save my mom's life and we will be eternally grateful."
The family hope the treatment could "potentially increase her life significantly or even possibly cure her", but the cost remains a significant barrier. Donations can be made via the GoFundMe page.
