A dad who was told he has just months to live has started treatment in the hope of fighting a rare brain tumour.
Rick Smith was diagnosed with an astroblastoma in March after going to the doctor with constant headaches.
Doctors initially predicted the 39-year-old from Minster on Sheppey had just 15 months and suggested it was best he started palliative care.
But after an online fundraiser that amassed more than £100,000, his family have instead sought specialist help from Lithuania to give Rick the best chance of beating the disease.
His brother Aaron flew to the Innovita Research Centre to help create a vaccine tailor-made to Rick’s condition.
The centre specialises in research into anti-aging, cancer and immunotherapy and regenerative medicines.
The original plan was for Rick to fly out and give a sample of his blood but due to his health his brother went instead.
From this blood, a course of treatment was created tailor-made to Rick’s body.
The centre produced a “dendritic cell therapy” (DCV) vaccine and a “cytokine-induced killer” (CIK) injection – the former tells the body there is a tumour while the latter helps to fight it.
Rick’s fiancé, Kat Binfield, has been by his side since the diagnosis and has helped as much as possible when it has come to his recovery.
She said: “On Friday he had his first lot of DCV and CIK infusions - that’ll be done every Friday for three weeks then he has a three-week break.
“Then he has another DCV and CIK and that will be that part of the treatment done.”
He also has another injection every other day, given by Kat, to boost his white blood cell count.
It is complimented by a nose spray that she gives him, which is a low-dose type of chemotherapy that goes straight to the tumour.
“His treatment plan is to last a year overall,” Kat added.
The whole process has cost £60,000 but the family from Thistle Hill have been able to pay for it using the money raised by their GoFundMe.
Kat said: “People are being absolutely incredible and the fundraiser page is still increasing.
“It’s amazing as it means we don’t have to stress or worry. If I need anything for Rick, it’s there.”
Despite starting treatment Rick's condition has slowly deteriorated, having lost all feeling in his right side and the ability to communicate.
The couple now sleep in the living room – Rick in a hospital bed and Kat on the sofa – as stairs have become difficult.
The mum-of-four collapsed from exhaustion last week after coming down with a bug.
Kat said: “It’s hard to keep on top of yourself when you’re looking after someone else so I probably wasn’t eating as well as I could be.
“It got on top of me but it’s like the universe gives you a bit of a warning and I’m better and looking after myself a bit better.
“It’s no good for Ricky if I am a man down.”
The GoFundMe set up when the family were first given the diagnosis is still active.
The total at the time of writing was £120,018 via more than 3,000 donations – more than double the original target of £50,000.
Friends and family have also been holding fundraisers for Rick to help get him the best treatment possible.
Kat said: “Recently we had one in Sheppey that went really well.
“They ran one in Southampton where Ricky’s family lives and they raised nearly £18,000.
“I do event styling and balloons and the girls did a balloon day and gave the money over to me and they raised over £1,000 so that was Sophie from the gold events.”
Kat is also making regular updates to followers on her TikTok account where she documents the whole process.
She is also keeping people informed with posts on GoFundMe so contributors can stay informed about how their money is helping the family.
