Help Save Natalie

Dear Family and Friends

I am writing in desperation to ask for your help in

saving the life of my beloved Natalie.

As many of you are aware Natalie was diagnosed

with a rare and aggressive type of Leukemia in
March of this year.

The journey that began that dreadful night has

been littered with sleepless nights, tears, fears
hope and love.

We are now in the final stages of that journey. We are at what feels like the last fork in the
road. And this is where I am appealing for your help.

Last week we received the devastating news that after a potentially life saving bone mar-
row transplant Natalie has had an “explosive” relapse. The doctors gave us two stark
choices. Either go home and spend time with our baby Elkie, before accepting the inevita-
ble or receive further very painful high-risk treatment that would almost certainly end the
same way but in hospital.

Natalie began shaking with fear and hopelessness. Nat’s mum Deborah, who has been a
tower of strength, finally caved in and began to cry and so did I. Even little Elf went quiet,
as the darkness seemed overwhelming.

It’s not a choice we could bear. I told myself, if there is even a glimmer of light on the hori-
zon there is hope. Without hope there can be no salvation there is only darkness; I frantic-
ally set out to find the light.

I began contacting friends, family and experts around the world for options. Our good
friends Tom and Di in San Francisco then pointed us towards a clinical trial in Germany,
which Di, who is a pharmaceutical research scientist, said looked promising for Nat.

I spent the night reading about the trial and emailing hematologists in London, Frankfurt,
Vienna and New York. By morning I was in discussion with Max Topp in Wurzburg Ger-
many, who is the principal investigator in charge of the drug trial.

After 5 very dark days, we had found the first little glow … albeit
faint and a long way away. Since then that glimmer has become
brighter and now presents a real ray of hope.

This clinical trial feels like it is specifically designed for Nat. She suf-
fers from a pre B cell form of relapsed /Acute Lymphoblastic Leuke-
mia. The type is aggressive and the prognosis is dismal.

The trial is a phase 2 trial of a drug called Blinatumomab.

Blinatumomab is a monoclonal antibody which can destroy B-cells.

The results so far are very encouraging. Its use has been described
in three patients who relapsed after transplant and all three
achieved another remission. In one case it allowed a second trans-
plant and a durable remission. The consensus amongst the special-
ists is that this may be very good for Natalie.

There are significant hurdles in getting Natalie to Germany for the

trial. Her white blood count is dangerously high for air travel. It is
possible it can be reduced with chemotherapy. The trial excludes the
use of chemotherapy for 14 days prior to the start.

It feels as though we are trying to thread two needles with burning

cotton. But we will do it. We will get her there and grasp this lifeline.

So, we are preparing to move to a small town in Germany for what we hope, against hope,
will be the final, SUCCESFUL, leg of Natalie’s unbelievable journey down the long dark road
of Leukemia.

On this final leg hope will be our motivation, fear will provide focus, love will hold us to-
gether and courage will drive us forwards. As Winston Churchill once said:

‘Courage is rightly praised as the first of human qualities because it is the one that guaran-
tees all others’

Natalie has courage in bucket loads. She never betrays the torment she has endured, but
let me remind you of her astounding bravery over the last 6 months.

First she was told that her Leukemia was high risk and that she would need a bone marrow
transplant. Next followed weeks of sleepless nights whilst they searched the world for a
suitable donor match.

Unbelievably, as if Leukemia wasn’t horrific enough, Nat was then

bitten by a highly venomous white-tailed spider that produced a
hideous wound on her hand. We were told this might interrupt the
critical bone marrow transplant. She battled through.

Finally after many months of chemotherapy, blood transfusions,

lumber punctures, drugs and needles she achieved a complete re-
mission and a suitable donor was found. For a moment we celebrated.

In preparation for stem cell transplant she endured more powerful chemotherapy as well as
total body irradiation. The latter would ensure that Natalie never has another child and
force her into early menopause. But Natalie’s view was “oh well I have
one beautiful baby daughter we can be happy with that”. We were ad-
vised that she had a one in five chance of not making it through the
transplant procedure.

Day zero, transplant day, was an emotional moment for Natalie, Baby
Elkie, Grandma and I. We watched in tears as the new donor cells
dripped through a central line into her bloodstream. We decided that
this was the beginning of her new life. Despite a worrying episode of
Pneumonia and Pleurisy Natalie battled through again.
On day 19 she walked out of hospital and was reunited with baby
Elkie. From Day 19 to Day 75 things were progressing well. We
began to plan for the future.

But on day 76 her transplant physician was surprised by a high

white blood count. Day 77 the doctor confirmed our worst fears.
Her cancer had come back, with a vengeance.

If all goes well with the trial Natalie will achieve a second remis-
sion. The new drug might hold her there or she may need an-
other transplant.

This drug, with the unpronounceable name of Blinatumomab is

being talked about as a possible alternative to bone marrow
transplant. It might be a remarkable breakthrough in the treat-
ment of leukemia. We are not just hopeful for Natalie, but everyone who suffers from this
vile disease.

The whole mission will be very expensive. I am asking for any support you can give. Every
little helps. I hate to do this but desperate times call for desperate measures.

I am appealing for your help in raising $80,000 (£50,000) to pay for special travel with a
possible medical escort as well as accommodation in Wurzburg near Frankfurt and, medical
costs that may fall outside of the drug trial.

All contributions will be placed in a bank account, which will be used solely for the support
of Natalie and immediate family. Any funds outstanding at the end of the trial will either be
used to establish a charity that will help other people in desperate need or donated to the
Leukemia Foundation. If you would like to help save Natalie please deposit your contribu-
tion into the following account. Every little helps

National Australia Bank

Account Name -Andy Fairclough -Save Natalie
BSB 082352
Acc No 674634165

Barclays Bank UK
Sort code 20-72-17
Acc No 60358819

Or If you would like to make a contribution by credit

card you can also use this donations page on the
Flying Fish website:

www.flyingfishonline.com/helpNat

I know that most people won't be able to give very much - but even the smallest donation
will help to provide a lifeline for Nat and baby Elkie.

Andy Fairclough