Bruce Needs Our Help 💛
Fundraising for non funded medical treatments to fight Bruces rare and aggressive appendix cancer
Kaukapakapa, Auckland
Our dear friend Bruce is facing the fight of his life after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive stage 4 appendix cancer.
After seeking medical opinions in New Zealand, Australia, and overseas, Bruce and his wife Leslie believe his best chance for survival is urgent Cytoreductive Surgery + HIPEC (CRS/HIPEC) with specialist Dr Sanket Mehta in Mumbai, India.
Recent scans have shown the cancer is now severely compressing Bruce’s bowel, and he is currently on a strict liquid diet while the family urgently prepares to travel to India within the next 10–14 days.
This surgery offers real hope, but the financial cost is significant. Funds raised will help cover surgery, flights, accommodation, recovery, and ongoing treatment expenses.
Bruce is a deeply loved husband, devoted father of two young children, and a man of strong Christian faith. Through every challenge, Bruce and Leslie continue to trust God and walk this journey with courage, honesty, and hope. They are believing this journey to India may become part of a greater story of healing, faith, and God’s provision.
If you are able to give, no matter the amount, it would mean so much to their family.
Most importantly, please pray for healing, wisdom, safe travel, successful surgery, and peace for Bruce, Leslie, and their children.
Thank you for standing with them during this difficult season. Your generosity, love, and prayers truly make a difference. 🙏
Sara-Maria Sanvicens' involvement (page creator)
We are dear friends of the Hurd family.
Use of funds
28/04/2026 - Towards Non funded Medical treatment, at this stage Avastin and also alternative treatments Bruce is taking to support him through the Chemo journey.
12/05/2026 - Updated use of funds: Cytoreductive Surgery + HIPEC (CRS/HIPEC) treatment in India, and ongoing unfunded cancer treatments.
Latest update
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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