A LOVED PHYSICIAN BECOMES A PATIENT

$61,608 of $88,000 goal

Given by 233 generous donors in around 4 months

Beloved Burwood Spinal Unit Rehabilitation Physician Lincoln Jansz is now a patient with Advanced (stage 4) Lung Cancer requiring Keytruda.

Canterbury

(Be sure to check Lincoln's personal messages via the UPDATES tab above)

Donations and Updates closed off on 31/1/18. For any matters beyond that date feel free to contact Hans Wouters hans.wouters@nzspinaltrust.org.nz

One of our dear colleagues, Dr Lincoln Jansz has recently been diagnosed with Advanced (Stage 4) Lung Cancer. This has been devastating for his friends and colleagues and we seek your support to help extend his time with us and with his beloved family: young sons Benig (11), Milan (8) and his wife Julianne.

Lincoln is a physician who gives his time unstintingly to his patients, and the timing of his illness seems all the more unfortunate as only within the last year has he completed many arduous years of training to become a specialist rehabilitation physician, working to improve outcomes for people with spinal injury. We hope we may see him, with his attentive, thoughtful and principled approach, continue to address the needs of patients for some time to come.

As for Lincoln, with his historical sense and philosophical perspectives, he knows well enough that cancer is famously indiscriminate and so feels no resentment of his fortune, only that life’s trials may perhaps be reserved for those with strength to face them. He will use all of his will and wisdom to meet this challenge, drawing on the knowledge and wonderfully kind support of his colleagues, and sustained by the love and support of friends and family.

At this stage, with all other options having been ruled out, immunotherapy in the form of the intravenous drug KEYTRUDA offers the sole prospect of prolonging his life, but unfortunately it is neither funded nor can be administered in the public system. A standard course of 8 cycles will cost him $88,000.00 - comprising $68,000 for the medication and the remainder for administration - which he is required to receive at a private hospital. If it results in the hoped-for survival benefit it will enable Lincoln to perhaps see his 2 sons grow in independence into their teenage years and establish many more memories and life experiences with their treasured Dad. We also hope that he would have several more years to work alongside us, pursuing his passion for the work he trained for.

Please join us in giving Lincoln his best chance to do this.

Hans Wouters' involvement (page creator)

My Burwood Hospital Physician friends have asked me to assist their desire to raise funds by creating a Give A Little Campaign

Use of funds

Funds donated will go to Lincoln for his Keytruda and healthcare related costs.

Of the money donated towards funding of the Keytruda and health-related costs any remainder after active treatment has been completed or if Lincoln succumbs before then would be placed in trust for the support of his Benig and Milan.

Latest update

A final personal update from Lincoln #4 30 January 2018

As the end of the month draws near, it is both a duty and a privilege to pay my tribute to you all – who have kept watchful company with me these months past while I have trod this path, from the initiation of my treatment to the close of this page. During that time I have felt the sedate strength of your humanity, and have learned how great it is to be alive in a world where human kindness and fellow-feeling still shine with life-giving light.

During the last 6 weeks this treatment that you have helped me have has reduced my symptoms to a level that has allowed me to undertake a small number of hours at work on a narrow range of selected tasks. Previous to that I couldn’t even have contemplated such a thing. That I have benefited from this treatment so far, and as to how long I shall continue to do so, must lie in the lap of the gods; but that I have been able to have this treatment with my head still held above water is by grace of your selfless gifts to me. These have sustained me: these, and your words – which have put new heart into me every time I have read them.

Thank you my friends for all that you have done and said here; for caring. Because of this treatment, and through your tender-hearted goodness, I now have a fighting chance of making it through a longer time with my family than had seemed possible at the start. We have felt held by you, and whatever the outcome of this journey we will always remember your awe-inspiring kindness, your magnificent generosity, and will carry the warmth of your compassion in our hearts.

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