Joyful, kind, fun, considerate, full of life, warm, sincere, loving, father, husband, brother, son, true friend.... these are some words that anyone who meets Dariusz Wieczorek would use to describe him.

Prior to Friday 22nd June 2018, Dariusz was enjoying his life just like you and me: working and loving his family life. He had recently become a father and you would struggle to find a better dad than him.

In April 2018, Dariusz began to experience memory loss, concentration issues and frequent headaches. Those symptomps were first misdiagnosed as anxiety/depression related to having a newborn child and the busy, reponsible life he led as a husband and father. It wasn’t until he developed severe headaches and vomiting that he knew something wasn’t right.

He visited Bedford Hospital with his wife and he hoped that doctors would prescribe some medications and discharge him. Unfortunately, he was given devastating news that would alter and shatter his family's world forever. After an MRI scan, doctors informed him that he had a 6 x 4 cm tumour growing on the left side of his brain. He was immediately admitted to the hospital for further tests and began treatment with steroids to reduce pain and swelling around the brain.

On 13th July 2018, Dariusz underwent brain tumour resection surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Subsequent histopathology results confirmed doctors' worst fears: that the tumour was Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM 4). This is the most aggressive type of brain cancer with, sadly, an average survival rate of 12-18 months only (from diagnosis to death).

Following the surgery, from August 2018 to April 2019 Dariusz went through an intensive treatment regime consisting of 6 weeks of radiotherapy followed by 6 long months of chemotherapy. Dariusz battled on through and things were improving for him.

Sadly, in November 2020 the tumour returned. From December 2020 to May 2021, Dariusz once again went through 6 months of chemotherapy, which resulted in tumour shrinkage. However, in July 2021 the tumour started growing again very rapidly. To address this, doctors decided to use a different type of chemotherapy, which Dariusz took for 6 months. This treatment seemed to work initially, as an MRI scan in November 2021 showed tumour shrinkage by 40%.

However, in February 2022 Dariusz experienced a seizure during a parkrun event during which he collapsed and lost his ability to speak for several minutes. A subsequent emergency MRI scan showed the tumour re-growing at an alarming rate once again.

Due to the diffused nature of the tumour, surgery is currently not an option. As for other treatments on the NHS, the only remaining option is to try chemotherapy once again, however, the chances of success are sadly very slim.

This has been a long, exhausting and emotional journey for Dariusz and his family. Dariusz and his family now live one day at a time. This is where we really need your compassionate help.

What are we fundraising for?

Given that Dariusz is running out of options on the NHS, we are fundraising to pay for the following Glioblastoma treatments available through private funding:

1) Tumour Treating Fields (TTF) device, also known as Optune, which costs approx. £20,000 for each month of treatment, amounting to £240,000 per year

2) Avastin (Bevacizumab), costing approx. £1,900 per month of treatment, amounting to £22,800 per year

Both of the above treatments are already included in standard Glioblastoma treatment regimes in some countries, including the United States, Japan, Israel and Germany. However, due to high costs, they are not available on the NHS in the UK.

Therefore, we are desperately seeking your help and generosity so we can plan and organise the above treatments for Dariusz, to give him hope for the best possible outcome of a long life with his wife Joanna and his daughter Nadia. Any amount received would be greatly and sincerely appreciated.

We also ask, if it agrees with your beliefs, to please pray for Dariusz and his family during this very difficult time.

We live in a busy world, but if you could take a moment and put yourself in Dariusz's shoes...

Thank you for reading and sharing this story and for your donations.

P.S Updates will be provided on Dariusz's treatment and progress.

P.S.2 Due to the fact that Dariusz lives in the UK but was born in Poland, the fundraising is being carried out simultaneously in Poland and in the UK. The Polish fundraising site can be found at:

https://pomagam.pl/leczenie-darka-wieczor

Regardless of whether you donate on the Polish or on the UK website, all collected funds will be used for Dariusz's treatments described above.

A prayer for Dariusz and his family: Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you to seek your comfort and supernatural healing for Dariusz. We ask that you guide all the doctors with their wisdom and knowledge during treatment. We believe nothing is impossible in your hands of power, in your hands of healing and in your heart of love, mercy and compassion. Calm all fears and cover Dariusz and his family with your sovereign hand. We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

UPDATE !!!

Finally got a few minutes to update you all on the progress of Dariusz treatment.

Since we started this page there was unfortunately so bad new along the way, in March Dariusz experience another seizure and then some heavy headache started as well. He end up on A&E and had to stay in hospital for few days, during that time they run a MRI to see what causes the headache and unfortunately the news been devastating for all of us. The MRI reported a severe disease progression compering to his previous scan from beginning of February.

Time once again has not been our friend. After lengthily consultation with Dariusz doctor decision been made that we need to act quick and with much heavier treatment that we expected.

On Monday 4th of April Dariusz started combination of two chemo tablets Lomustine and Temozolomide, alongside Avastin and Sativex.

While the chemo tablets are NHS funded the other two drugs needs to be pay privately. So far Dariusz had two infusions of Avastin at a cost of £2530.50 and two lots of Sativex which cost us far £3600.00.

The chemo tablets Dariusz will be taking every 6 weeks, while the Avastin is every 3 weeks and the Sativex is at a daily dose.

We also received final cost for the Optune from the Novocure Company, which is shocking £17,500 per month. We know that we are far from reaching our target but we still believe that with all of your help we can give Dariusz the best treatment he deserved. We already see a massive improvement in his symptoms and energy level since he started the treatment, but there is still more we can do to help him and we believe that Optune would be a massive turning point in controlling his tumours.

Please continue to share this page far & wide to help us reach the target and get Dariusz the treatment he needs and once again thank you all so much for your contributions so far it means a lot for all of us.

Every month and every extra day with Dariusz is priceless for all of us but especially for our daughter Nadia. Let help us give her as many beautiful memory with her daddy as possible.

With love

Joanna, Dariusz and Nadia