Family's hope as Wellingborough dad gets positive news after latest cancer treatment in Germany
A dad-of-three who was told he may only have months to live is celebrating his 48th birthday today and preparing for further treatment to give him more time with his family.
After Paul King was diagnosed with advanced tonsil cancer last year, family and friends have been fundraising to access specialist treatment in Frankfurt after being told there were no further options available in the UK that could save his life.
Last week they travelled to Germany for Paul's latest treatment with Professor Vogl, who was able to give them some good news.
Professor Vogl reported there are no new lesions, the treatment continues to work and the tumour is now 10 per cent smaller.
Six weeks ago, they were told it had reduced by around five per cent so hearing that the progress is continuing was an incredible moment for the family.
The professor is very pleased with the results and has asked Paul to return in four weeks so he can continue treating the tumour aggressively while it is responding.
Paul’s wife Melissa told the Northants Telegraph: “As Paul's wife, I cannot put into words what this news means to our family.
"Back in January, we were told that Paul's time could be measured in just a couple of months.
"Hearing those words was devastating and we honestly didn't know what the future would hold.
"Now, five months later, as we prepare to celebrate Paul's 48th birthday, we are feeling something we haven't felt in a very long time – hope.
"Five months after being told he may only have a couple of months left, Paul is still here with us.
"He's still fighting, still making memories with our children and now receiving scan results that show the treatment is continuing to work.
"We know there are no guarantees and we take nothing for granted, but every birthday, every laugh with our children and every extra memory we make together truly feels like a gift.”
But the Wellingborough family has not been alone in fighting the cancer as people across Wellingborough have been rallying round to support them.
Melissa said: “None of this would have been possible without the incredible kindness of people in Wellingborough and beyond.
"Every donation, every fundraiser ticket bought, every raffle prize donated, every social media share and every message of support has helped us continue this fight.
"When we started this journey, we never imagined how many people would stand beside us.
"Because of the generosity of our community, Paul has been able to access treatment that is now showing measurable results.
"While we are incredibly grateful for this positive progress, the reality is that Paul's treatment journey is far from over.
"Because the treatment is working, Professor Vogl wants Paul to return to Frankfurt again in less than four weeks to continue targeting the tumour.
"Each trip comes with significant treatment, travel and accommodation costs, and unfortunately the need for fundraising continues.
"We are determined to keep fighting for every opportunity and every extra moment together as a family, but we cannot do it alone.
"We would be so grateful if people could continue supporting our fundraising efforts and keep an eye out for future fundraising events over the coming months.
"Every donation, no matter how small, helps us continue accessing this treatment and gives Paul the opportunity to keep fighting.”
Melissa said: “As we prepare to celebrate Paul's birthday, we know there is still a long road ahead and we continue to take things one day at a time.
"But for the first time in a long while, we are grateful that we have some genuinely positive news to share.
“If there is one thing this journey has taught us, it is the incredible kindness that exists within our community.
“The support we have received has carried us through some of the darkest days of our lives.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
“Thank you for helping Paul keep fighting.
“Thank you for helping us create more precious memories together as a family.
“And thank you for giving us hope when we needed it most.”
To support the family’s ongoing fundraising, visit the gofundme page here.