Help me make memories for my children

My name is Doug Croft and in April last year I was diagnosed with a very rare terminal brain tumour.

I have had amazing medical treatment from all the doctors, nurses and volunteers involved in my surgeries, radiotherapy and now chemo. They have had a hand in giving me some more precious days with my wife, my nine year old daughter and my six year old son.

After surgery in May 2014 followed by radio therapy in July – August 2014 my relatives and workmates gave my family and I a holiday in Australia for 3 weeks. It was amazing to shelve our stress and immerse ourselves in creating lasting memories and photographs of us all together I returned to more medical treatments and scans that showed my tumour had shrunk. Relief and happiness returned to our lives and we got back to the business of being a family. However, just over a month ago my latest scan showed the tumour had doubled in size and was progressing rapidly.

I have now just about completed my first round of chemotherapy and there is the possibility of further surgery if all goes well, followed by further chemotherapy. Rest assured, I will continue to fight. However, it has now been necessary for me to medically retire from work, putting additional pressure on our amazing support network. My now former work mates have and continue to be fantastic support and I thank them wholeheartedly. You all know who you are.

I have pages of dreams, pages and pages. I have two beautiful kids and I will miss so much of their lives. My wife and I had plans for retirement, we had plans for holidays, trips and experiences, and they have all evaporated in an instant. I will not sit with my son at an All Blacks test, I will not be able to dance with my daughter at her wedding, I will not cry as my first grandchild arrives and hold my wife tight and comfort her as she struggles with the gap I will leave after nearly 24 full years together. I dream of making a quarter of a century of quality life together before my time comes.

This page is to fund a dream… of which I have many. By contributing a small amount I would be able to take my son fishing on Lake Taupo, or my daughter to a show in Wellington or my family to a Gold Coast theme Park. I would like to leave my family with some more photos and memories of our lives together. I want so many things, I could not articulate how much it would mean to me to be able to achieve just one.

Thank you.