Karen begins fight for five extra years

Nov 3 2007 by Robyn Skinner, The Journal

A MOTHER battling terminal cancer has begun the vital treatment that might give her five more precious years with her daughter.

The plight of 43-year-old Karen Gault, who has so far been denied the drug Avastin on the NHS, has touched the hearts of well-wishers from around the world and more than £18,000 has been raised since Karen’s appeal appeared in The Journal last month.

One donation – for $50 – came from the United States, after a friend sent them a copy of The Journal.

The cash meant Karen, of Jesmond Dene Road in Newcastle, was able to receive the first of nine doses of the drug at her home. She was said to be recovering well last night.

Her husband, Gateshead Council design services engineer Paul, said: “She had the Avastin and she didn’t have a reaction. She can tolerate it all right. It’s a great relief. It is only 3% of patients who have a problem with it, but she has been fine.”

He said their three-year-old daughter, Grace was doing “really, really well. She is very happy.”

It was in September that former NHS administrator Karen found out that her bowel cancer was terminal.

Her only hope of seeing her daughter Grace grow up was to persuade doctors to prescribe Avastin – a life-extending drug which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) says does not represent value for money.

With time running out, Karen and husband Paul, 48, decided that for their daughter’s sake, they needed to find the £25,000 cost of the drug themselves.

Thanks to a sponsored 60-mile bike ride, coffee mornings, book sales, and the generosity of parishioners at the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus – as well as gifts from Journal readers – £18,000 has already been raised.

Paul said the outpouring of support from strangers had been tremendous.

“People have been really, really generous. I don’t know these people from Adam, but I’ve been contacted by email and phone after the articles in The Journal. We’re stunned. We didn’t expect this kind of result.”

After a blood test in two weeks to check on Karen’s immune system, it is hoped she will be able to have the second of the nine treatments she hopes will help her live for up to five more years.

If you can help the Gaults find the other £7,000 they need, Paul can be contacted on: 07976 612270 or email gaultpaul@hotmail.com