Kian Musgrove: Two-Year-Old’s Mother Has Just Thirty Days To Raise Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars For Potentially Lifesaving Treatment

An English mom has been placed in the heartbreaking position of having just 30 days to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to potentially save her son, Kian’s, life, The Metro is reporting.

Two-year-old Kian was diagnosed with Stage Four neuroblastoma in 2013. Thanks to extensive surgeries, he’s beaten the cancer, for now; his doctors say that the odds of a relapse are almost 80 percent.

The relapse treatment Kian needs isn’t available on the U.K.’s free government healthcare plan (NHS), so his mom will need to raise money for relapse treatment in the U.S. – relapse treatment that’s likely to cost half a million pounds (about $747,000 at current exchange rates) or more. She’s already raised over £100,000 – but there’s a catch.

According to Chronicle Live, a new form of treatment, called DFMO, is available in the States. The cost would be £140,000 ($209,000), but if Ms. Musgrove spends the money she’s already raised on the treatment, and it doesn’t work, she’s out of money for the more traditional relapse treatment.

“This has left me facing the hardest decision of my life. If I spent the money we’ve raised on the new, preventative treatment, and it doesn’t work, I’m left with nothing. But I couldn’t live with myself if I let this new opportunity pass.”

There’s also another catch: DFMO can only be started no later than 120 days after the patient’s last immunotherapy treatment. Since Kian’s last treatment was 90 days ago, his family now has less than 30 days to raise $209,000 for potentially lifesaving treatment for their son.

“I want to give my boy every chance of survival, I’m sure any other mother would be the same. I’m scared that if I let go of this opportunity, I’ll forever regret it. But then if it doesn’t work, I could be left with nothing.”

Neuroblastoma, according to The Metro, “attacks specialized nerve cells called neural crest cells, which are involved in the development of the nervous system.” In Kian’s case, the disease began in his nerve cells, eventually spreading to his bones and causing some 27 tumors.

At the clinic where Kian’s DFMO treatment will be performed, some 55 children have been treated. Only four have suffered a relapse.

As of this post, the GoFundMe account set up to raise money for Kian’s treatment has raised £6,276.

[Image courtesy of: Chronicle Live]