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Bruce Needs Our Help 💛

  • Costs increase

      18 June 2026

    Bruces final bill before the last discharge was shockingly higher than expected, due to a fungal infection and all the related tests and medications involved. Overall the journey is coming in much higher than budgeted due to all the complications, including the current situation, where Bruce is back in hospital, currently in ICU with an infection. Each additional day in hospital is about $1,000 NZD and ICU days are more like $2,000.

    Leslie and Bruce are taking it one step at a time. The chemo and hopeful next surgery are bridges to cross when we come to them.

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  • Update from Leslie

      18 June 2026

    I’ve just returned from visiting Bruce in ICU and wanted to share a brief update.

    There have been some encouraging signs today, but Bruce remains in a very fragile condition. Last night he required a blood transfusion due to concerning blood results, he is currently on oxygen support, blood pressure medication, and close monitoring in ICU. Drs now believe these complications stem from a urinary tract infection that progressed more seriously than expected.

    However Bruce appears to be responding to antibiotics. He was alert enough for us to talk, is eating, no longer dehydrated, and is experiencing less pain. However, he remains very breathless and extremely low in energy. The focus right now is helping his body recover from the infection and regain strength.

    We are hopeful he may be able to leave ICU in the coming days, but there are still many uncertainties ahead.

    We also want to share the financial burden continues to grow. The final bill from his previous hospital stay was significantly higher than expected due to additional testing, medications, and treatment for a fungal infection. With this current admission, costs are rising quickly. Hospital care is approximately $1,000 NZD per day, and ICU care is $2,000 NZD per day.

    Beyond this crisis, Bruce still faces chemotherapy and, hopefully, further surgery when strong enough.

    Thank you for your prayers, generosity, and ongoing support. Your kindness is helping carry Bruce and our family through this difficult time.

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  • 2 weeks in India

      29 May 2026

    It has now been a week since Bruce's surgery.

    During the operation, the surgeon discovered that the cancer was more extensive than originally expected, which meant they were unable to complete the full CRS HIPEC procedure. However, they were still able to remove 80% of the cancer and install a chemo port ready for Bruce to start chemotherapy in India once he has recovered and regained some strength over the next three weeks.

    One week after surgery Bruce is making encouraging progress. He is already up and walking the hospital corridor, consuming all the various liquid concoctions the hospital give him and has started on smoothies.

    This change in treatment does mean there will be further costs to come, including specialised treatment which will be undertaken by the expert team in India, additional accomodation expenses, and potentially another surgery following chemotherapy.

    Thank you so much for all your generosity, and support. It is truely appreciated.

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  • On their way to India

      16 May 2026
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    After a massive week of frenzied planning, updated passports and Visas; Bruce, Leslie and the Kids are now in the air and off on their cancer adventure to India.

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  • Off to India

      9 May 2026

    After weeks of scans, hospital stays, specialist appointments, research, and prayer, Bruce and Leslie were faced with two very different treatment paths for Bruce’s rare and aggressive stage 4 appendix cancer.

    Specialists in New Zealand recommended starting with chemotherapy and reassessing surgery later. However, leading surgeons in Australia and India strongly recommended urgent Cytoreductive Surgery + HIPEC (CRS/HIPEC) immediately, believing surgery offers Bruce the best chance of survival while he is still strong enough to undergo it.

    Because Bruce’s cancer is so rare, there is no universally agreed treatment pathway. Bruce and Leslie carefully researched both approaches, sought multiple expert opinions, and spent countless hours weighing the risks and urgency of each option.

    After contacting clinics around the world, Dr Sanket Mehta in Mumbai responded within hours and personally spoke with them the next day. With extensive experience treating this rare cancer, he strongly advised Bruce to come urgently for surgery.

    At the same time, new scans revealed Bruce’s bowel has become dangerously compressed by the cancer, leaving only a 5mm opening and forcing him onto a strict liquid diet while they prepare to travel.

    After much prayer and consideration, Bruce and Leslie believe travelling to India for urgent surgery is the path God has placed before them — a step of faith, hope, and courage as they fight for healing and more time together as a family.

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  • Prayer Points for Bruce and Leslie

      9 May 2026

    Prayer Requests

    - Continue to pray that God will light the way, that his hand will guide us, that it is his doing that we see things this way.

    And to act quickly if not!

    - Pray for all the planning and preparation that has to occur. That we will be able to do it, and maintain ourselves through it, especially Leslie, who is working so very hard.

    - Pray for the travel, the accommodation, the hospital, Dr Mehta the surgeon and the surgery itself.

    - Pray that the narrow bowel still does not close any further, and I’ll be safe and sound on the liquid diet.

    - Pray for the kids, that they will be kept through this and cope with everything and grow through the adventure.

    -Pray that we will meet amazing people, and help in amazing projects doing God’s work over there.

    -Pray that our trials will lead to God's glory and great things in other people's lives.

    Pray that we will continue to rely on him, and trust him.

    -That God has a plan and purpose for us, and he will continue to reveal it to us, in power and wonderful ways.

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  • Chemo to start on Friday

      4 May 2026
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    Dear Friends 💛

    It’s been a full-on week for Bruce and Leslie with some really good news. Bruce now has a chemo start date (!!) — and it’s earlier than expected. He was told 2–3 weeks, but treatment begins this Friday. Praise God for answered prayer 🙏 It’s unusual for things to move this quickly, and this is being taken as a sign of both urgency and hope, and that God is going before them.

    Bruce met with a private oncologist on Friday who answered many questions, which was incredibly helpful. The plan is chemo every 2 weeks for 3 months initially. As they learn more, it feels less overwhelming than first thought — fewer hospital trips and hopefully milder side effects.

    Because of the quick start, Bruce won’t have a port installed yet and will begin with a PICC line in his arm. Not ideal, but worth it to start sooner.

    Pain is still variable, but hospice is helping manage medications well. The level of care has been amazing.

    They are also receiving a second opinion from Australia this week, where one of the world’s leading experts in this rare cancer will review Bruce’s case.

    Thank you for the calls, visits, and messages — they feel very supported and blessed. Bruce is still up for chats when able.

    Prayer requests 🙏

    • Thanks for answered prayer and encouragement

    • Wisdom from the second opinion

    • Smooth chemo start (including PICC line) and effective treatment

    • Health for the family through winter

    • Stability in business

    • Finding the right developer

    Much love 💛

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