(TWIN TIMES): GRANT GERKEN BATTLES CANCER FOR THE 2ND TIME!

Just over 21 years ago Grant was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Non- Hodgkin Lymphoma. At the time he was told that he might have as little as a few months to live, with his only chance being an Intensive 12 week regime of Chemotherapy, which would push his body and mind to its outer limits. Six months later, after two further grueling regimes of Chemotherapy, he astonished everyone by being given a second chance at life.

For the next 21 years he made the most of life, extracting everything he could whilst becoming highly respected not only locally but nationally in his work, and most importantly an Incredible Family Man and Dad to his two beautiful children Jacob (16yrs) and Alisha (14yrs). Completing his family is soulmate Sonya, whom he is engaged to.

During those 21 years Grant has lived with considerable pain and discomfort, never once complaining, instead, savoring every moment he had. So you would think that once in a life time was enough….

But in February 2015, Grant has again received the soul destroying blow, of both non-Hodgkin Diffuse Large B-Cell and Follicular Lymphoma (Stage 4). The cancer has unfortunately travelled throughout his body, with his only chance of remission being Intensive Salvage Chemotherapy, followed by a Bone Marrow Transplant from his Identical Twin Brother Dean.

As we write, Grant’s Salvage Chemotherapy journey has started (less than 3 weeks post Bowel Surgery) in a last ditch effort to buy him some quality time with all those that love Grant so much.

One of the difficulties Grant and his family face is the shear geographical nature of his treatment, which necessitates him being away from home (Invercargill) for possibly numerous months on end, in both Dunedin and Christchurch.

We recognise the importance of being surrounded by those that you love, so enabling Jacob (Invercargill) and Alisha (Queenstown) to travel regularly to be with their Dad is a high priority to all involved.

The other significant difficulty we must consider, is Sonya’s extended time away from both home and work. With only limited leave, she faces an extended period without income, adding financial stress to an already extremely difficult time.

So for these reasons, we would really appreciate any contribution, no matter how small, to assist in taking every opportunity available to bring Grant’s family together in what is a critical time in his life.

Finally, we feel that it is really important to note that although Grant is extremely humbled by the thought of this page, asking for help is rather foreign to him. However, throughout his life Grant has always given so much of himself to others, and as a result we have been overwhelmed by the shear number of people wanting to help him. It is for that reason we have respectively set this page up.