When Graham Kelly found himself in excruciating pain he never imagined his life was hanging in the balance.
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The 58-year-old interstate truck driver was driving a b-double through Singleton when severe back pain told him something was wrong.
He went to hospital, thinking he had a back spasm, but then doctors found a tumour on the right side of his liver and another on the main artery.
Doctors will start injecting chemotherapy drugs directly into the tumours later this month to encourage them to shrink.
They can’t promise it will work, but they are going to do everything they can to give the father-of-four the best chance.
“It’s been hard on all of us because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” daughter Miranda said.
“They will fill the artery with a gelatine-based product to block the artery and cut the blood supply off.
“That should kill the right side of his liver, or shrink the tumours to an amount that would make it possible to cut the right side off.“If it works he will then need to have a liver transplant.”
Mr Kelly, of East Maitland, is a long-time truck driver who transports explosives to Queensland once a week, or twice in a fortnight.
Once the chemotheraphy begins Mr Kelly won’t be able to work.
He’s the breadwinner in the family and is worried about supporting his wife Sandra and their youngest son Jack, who is 14.
The family has two car loans and doesn’t have private health insurance.
They are already looking for a cheaper rental property and hope to find a more affordable home as soon as possible.
Miranda Kelly and her sister Nikki Blanch have organised a fundraiser at Maitland Park Bowling Club on July 1 to raise money enough money to pay the bills until he recovers.
They have started a go fund me page called Help Graham beat cancer.
“My dad is a tough bloke, he never whinges or complains,” Ms Kelly said.
“We’re just trying to take that stress away so dad doesn’t feel he has to go back to work, and he can recover.”
The family-friendly event, Come and Support #TEAMKELLY, will feature entertainment, mini golf, lawn bowls, fire dancing and jumping castles, to name a few.
Tickets are $25 for adults and kids are free.
The event starts at 2pm and finishes at 4pm.
Raffles and an auction will also be held. There are a range of prizes available including an alpaca, skateboard, candles, gift vouchers and a cricket bat signed by Matt Hussey.
For more information search Fundraiser for cancer! #TEAMKELLY on Facebook.