Ferny Grove dad continues nine year battle against cancer
A Brisbane man told he had just two weeks to live 9 years ago has fought off leukaemia, kidney failure, steroid induced blindness, cataract replacement, two melanomas and prostate cancer. Now he has one last chance at survival.
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A Ferny Grove father-of-four has remained remarkably strong for his family as he continues a nine-year long battle against three cancer diagnoses and countless gruelling treatments to stay alive.
Friends from the leukaemia community at a Brisbane hospital have called Damien Holt the last man standing, still alive and being the best father and husband he can be, as fellow leukaemia sufferers around him all sadly passed away.
The father-of-four was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2014, after a pharmacist told his wife Pamela that he needed to get a blood test after a mouth ulcer appeared.
A trip to the doctor the next day turned into a haunting drive from the Sunshine Coast to the Holy Spirit Northside Private Hospital, after a blood test revealed Mr Holt had leukaemia.
“At that point he was told had three weeks to live,” Mrs Holt said.
“If he didn't have that blood test he would have died.
“The worst part is when the doctor at the hospital did another test to double check and said this could kill you.
“Our youngest at the time was 18 months old and all we could think about was our kids growing up without a dad.
“It wasn’t long after that the doctors said he had a 25 per cent chance to live with treatment.”
Six months of chemotherapy, full body radiation treatments and stem cell transplants from a donor in Germany followed the leukaemia diagnosis.
The next 9 years between 2014 to this March produced a series of medical complications from the leukaemia, including Graft vs Host disease, kidney failure, steroid induced blindness, cataract replacement in both eyes, two melanomas and home dialysis treatment.
On March 22 Mr Holt was diagnosed with prostate cancer and then on March 31 a melanoma on his foot.
Unfortunately, traditional abdominal therapy holds risks to Damien‘s kidney transplant, which is in the way of traditional surgery or radiation.
The risks include losing his kidney transplant, resulting in full-time dialysis for a minimum of five years before being eligible for a transplant, and being unable to access chemotherapy for future cancers that keep popping up.
The good news is Nanoknife surgery is available as an alternative option, which will not put his kidney transplant at risk, the surgery will be no more complicated than any other patient, with the incision nowhere near the kidney, day surgery, and less chance of incontinence.
The only hurdle is that the surgery is not yet available in public hospitals, and the Ferny Grove family needs to raise $40,000 to get access to it, follow up surgery and another melanoma surgery on his foot.
Through all his upheaval, Mr Holt wishes more Australians would place themselves on the bone marrow registry, become organ donors and donate blood cells to people in need like him.
“We have lost track of all the red blood cells I have been given and the hundreds of transfusions to keep me alive over the years,” Mr Holt said.
“The bone marrow donation is done like a blood transfusion.
“They take blood out of one arm, take the stem cells out of the blood and pump the blood back into you.
“The reality is there’s a price to pay for my bone marrow transplants and the price is I will get more cancers.
The other thing that weighs on Damien’s mind is protecting and respecting his donor kidney and the person that so generously donated it.
A gift that has given him and his family greater quality of life.
He feels strongly about not having any surgery that could risk the generous gift and legacy of the donor.
Mrs Holt said her husband has faced these diabolic challenges without complaint.
“He’s done his best to make it better for the kids and I,” Mrs Holt said.
“He’s never felt sorry for himself and I think it’s attitude that helps.
“He’s been really accepting and worked with the doctors.”
A GoFundMe has been started for people to donate towards Mr Holt’s surgeries.
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