Fundraiser launched for 12-year-old Bedfordshire boy with brain tumour
Gorgeous George, as he is known, was diagnosed in April
Last updated 5th Aug 2021
In April 2020, George from Bedfordshire was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.
This super funny, sensitive, bright and kind boy had always been healthy but in early April 2020, his parents noticed that he was suddenly suffering from headaches out of the blue. Alarm bells rang when the vomiting started - and so they rushed to the hospital.
The hospital diagnosed George with migraines, but several weeks later...George had a seizure in his garden and his parents knew this was more than a migraine.
On 29th April 2020, George and his parents were told that there was a substantial brain tumour, it looked like cancer.
Within a matter of days after diagnosis, the team at Addenbrooke's told George's parents that he would undergo surgery.
The day after surgery, George was up and already walking, laughing and joking. He was back to his carefree self.
Unfortunately, during the surgery the Doctors hadn't been able to identify the type of tumour as they had hoped and it was sent away for a histology.
When the results came back, the Oncologist and Nurse asked George to step outside - and his parents knew the results weren't as they had hoped.
They were told to not waste any time trying to find a cure, just to enjoy what time they had left with George - usually 12 - 14 months.
However, his family and friends have decided that while they are enjoying their time with Gorgeous George they cannot stop searching for treatment to help.
George has a personalised vaccine being started for him in Germany, it will take 12 weeks to create and the monthly vaccines take around 6 months to start having an effect.
The family have launched a fundraiser to help cover not just treatment, but added costs like travel and hospital stays.
Currently they have raised just under £274,000 which although a huge amount of money, falls short of the true cost of seeking treatment abroad.
Louise Fox says a huge part of their fight for access to treatment for George is about moving things forward for everyone:
"We dont want anyone else to have to go through what we are going through.
"It takes my breathe away, the pain... the pain in unbearable.
"You have to be brave and do what you can do though. While I have breathe in my body and the same for Matt her husband we will keep fighting for him.
"Brain tumours receive 1% of the cancer research funding and yet it is the biggest cancer killer of under 40s. The treatment in this country has evolved since the chemotherapy drug being used now was introduced in 2007.
"In other countries there are drugs being used, and treatments being tried that could help George and other people but we behind.
"There will be other people out there living their happy lives like were were, and they won't know the reality until they are in our position."