Helping John Cooksley tackle brain cancer

While on holiday visiting one of their four children (and her family) in Melbourne, John was admitted to hospital in Melbourne.

Unfortunately it was discovered John had two large tumours in his head that are positive for Stage 4 brain cancer. The cancer is treatable but not curable, with the average life expectancy for this type of cancer being

14 months.

Just one week later John underwent brain surgery to remove as much of the tumours as possible- all the while keeping up the positive attitude John is loved and known for.

John now has a significant amount of treatment ahead, and he and Jenny are remaining in Melbourne for the first stages of this (estimated 2-3 months).

The family is fortunate enough to have medical care covered, however with limited sick leave owing, on top of dealing with everything else, the day to day expenses that they incur throughout their extended stay in Melbourne will begin to make an already difficult time harder.

There are bright sides to all this though, as John loves to point out:

- the family found out while Jenny and John were in Melbourne, conveniently being the place to have neurosurgery

- the love & support from family and friends has been overwhelming

- the reciprocal care agreement between Australia and NZ means John also gets to have the first part of his treatment at the Peter Mac hospital, which is a world leader in cancer treatments.

John and Jenny are normally the ones helping others through tough times, and have reluctantly agreed to my, and other friends requests’, to set this 'give a little' page up as a way for people who are a long way away to show their support.

John and Jenny are both teachers in New Plymouth, New Zealand and have four children between them, Jessie, Dom, Renee and Matt. John is called 'Gregory' by many family and friends as their first grandchild, Jos (son of Dom and Amelia), couldn't say Grandad. It really stuck, with many more calling John Gregory and him even suggesting he may as well just change his name!

John and Jenny now have four grandsons, Jos and little brother Luca (Dom and Amelia), Jack (son of Jessie and Alby) and Milo (son of Renee and Sam). They spend their days teaching (Jenny at Frankley Primary and John and Devon), playing with their grandkids and visiting their children. You'll often see John and Jenny cycling along the New Plymouth foreshore, with their little black schnauzer Molly - referred to as the "favourite child" by their human children - sitting on the back of John's bike.

Jenny and John are looking forward to returning to New Plymouth when possible.