William Brown Legacy
William Brown's story by Sheila Brown, WIlliam's mum
In April 2005 our son Willliam (Bill) then aged 28 became very ill and was diagnosed with a Glio Blastoma Multi Forme. In layman’s terms a very aggressive high grade tumour on his brain. As you can imagine we were devastated when the surgeon told him that it was terminal!
Bill had a major operation to remove up to 80% of the tumour, we were then referred to the Oncology dept. He was lucky enough to be put under Dr Sarah Jefferies' care, she and her team explained every part of his treatment very carefully. Before Bill could start the treatment he developed an infection in his wound, he was taken back to surgery and they removed the piece of bone flap that covered the hole in his scull. Once he had recovered from this his radiotherapy began, chemo was ruled out as it was too risky to proceed after an infection had set in.
After the six weeks radiotherapy and a period of recovery his scans looked favourable and Bill entered a time of remission. Bill did not want to be sitting around, he wanted to return to work so to improve his stamina he took on an allotment. Although we thought it would be too much for him he proved us wrong and gained much enjoyment down the allotment where he produced lovely fresh vegetables and chatted to the other rather older allotmenteers who had taken him to their hearts. He also wanted a dog and Neema his beloved springer spaniel came into his life in June 2006.
Bill finally got back to work in August 2007 and was so pleased to have his driving licence back and became the proud owner of a Nissan Primera, he had got his independence back after 2 ½ years!
In March 2008 Bill started to show signs that the tumour was retuning and was readmitted to Addenbrooke’s on the 31st. Richard, Wendy and I were so pleased when they put in a programme of treatment, we had secretly feared that this would not be the case. Bill again had an operation in April and this time he was awake, we all thought him very brave, his explanation of the experience was that it was rather ‘groovy’! Bill was to have Chemotherepy this time but he suffered set back after set back over the year and in early December we were told that the tumour had spread. Bill declined treatment until he had had his Christmas, I think he new that it would be his last. We set about making it a lovely family time for him and for us, my mother, his beloved Gran came and shared New Year with us and Wendy’s friends came and rented a cottage in a nearby village and brought about a younger dimension to this special time.
During the Autumn of 2008 we had encouraged Bill to make a will which he did, he did not have much to leave as he did not own a property. He left his fishing gear to his good friend Jim, asked that we take all funeral costs etc from his money and then left any residual monies to the Oncology Team at Addenbrooke’s.
After starting more aggressive chemo at the end of December Bill seemed to pick up but then had several more setbacks and ended up in Addenbrooke’s again. Bill came home to us and the last scan showed that they could do no more. Bill died at home with us around him on April 7th 2009.
After the funeral and all expenses had been paid the amazing sum of £14,000 was left. As Wendy and I were his appointed executors we contacted Addenbrooke’s and asked Dr Jefferies to give us some choices to put the money towards, she and her team had discussed back in 2005 the need for a trust to enable education and research into High Grade Glioma’s. This would need a good amount of money to start up, just perfect for Bill’s sum. Sarah Jefferies then suggested setting up the William Brown Trust within the Oncology Fund for this purpose. We thought it a wonderful idea and it meant that Bill would not be forgotten and will give us something to focus on now and in the future. We met with Dr Jefferies and the team on October 2nd 2009 and handed over the cheque.
Dr Jefferies said: “This is something I (and the team) have wanted to do since 2005 – with the realisation of improving treatments for glioblastoma. The size of the legacy makes this our first realistic option to keep a sustainable fund running.”
I am planning fund raising for 2010 and Richard and I are at this moment in the process of changing our wills to add to the William Brown Trust when we pass on. Leaving money in your will to a worthy cause is such a positive thing to do. They will probably never be able to cure such an aggressive form of tumour but they may with research and education help prolong the lives of sufferers. It doesn’t have to be a huge sum, just the residual amount which Bill did. Bill would have been so pleased.
