A South Surrey native’s cancer treatment in Texas is on hold while doctors determine whether the illness has spread, but despite a flurry of complications in recent days, Brandon and Michelle Durieux are staying positive.
The Durieuxs have been in Houston since Feb. 8, when they made the trip as a last-ditch effort after 24-year-old Brandon was told by doctors in Vancouver that there were no further treatment options available for the aggressive form of leukemia he was diagnosed with last summer.
As recently as last week, Brandon’s treatment had been showing signs of promise, according to Michelle, who had said a biopsy conducted after the first round earlier this month revealed that his cancer cells had dropped dramatically.
“It’s definitely moving in the right direction, we’re not in remission yet, but it’s a positive sign,” Michelle told Peace Arch News last Wednesday.
The couple had been awaiting the green light from doctors to start the second round after Durieux contracted a bacterial infection earlier this month that needed to be cleared up before he could proceed.
According to updates on the couple’s Go Fund Me page, however, things took a turn for the worse late last week when Brandon began exhibiting head and neck pain as well as shortness of breath.
Doctors feared the leukemia may have spread into Brandon’s central nervous system, however, preliminary spinal fluid-test results indicate that may not be the case, Michelle wrote online Sunday.
“As of right now, Brandon’s leukemia treatment is on hold while we wait for the spinal-fluid results and for his infection to clear up,” the post reads. “Depending on the presence of leukemia in his central nervous system, his ongoing treatment may change. Once we’re past this little speed bump, things will be full steam ahead.”
While the couple focuses their energy on Brandon’s recovery, friends and family back home on the Semiahmoo Peninsula have been rallying to raise money to help cover the medical bills for treatment in the U.S. – expected to cost more than a million dollars.
A benefit concert is planned for April 2 at Shannon Hall at the Cloverdale Fairgrounds, featuring country artists Rod Black, Jesse Allen, FM and guest Trevor Dennis.
While Michelle said she and Brandon are sad they won’t be able to attend the show in person, the efforts of organizers to put the fundraiser together have left them “speechless.”
An online fundraising campaign has also raised more than $103,000 since it was launched a week before the couple arrived in Texas.
“I can’t even wrap my mind around the fact that that many people have rallied together,” Michelle said. “It’s pretty incredible.”
And though their lives have been “super hectic” since leaving the Lower Mainland last month, Michelle said they are confident they made the right choice and are “fortunate and thankful” to be in Texas.
“Two months ago, Brandon was told that he was terminal,” she said. “Coming down here and finding out that there’s a lot of hope in future treatment is really wonderful and reassuring for the both of us.”
To read more about Brandon’s battle, and for a link to buy tickets to the April 2 show, visit www.gofundme.com/vzm5ejpt+
