With two days before a terminally ill New Zealand father will travel to the US for the biggest appointment of his life the family are celebrating a hint of good news.
A spot has opened up for Kurt Brunton, 41, to join the lifesaving clinical trial as early as September 16, given he gets the green light at his consultation in Boston on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time), news the family received last night.
"If he is able to get on the trial it means less costs than the FDA-approved drug and he can start right away, which is so important to us as time is of the essence," Brunton's wife Janelle Brunton-Rennie told the Herald this morning.
Brunton, a Remuera software accountant, has been battling an aggressive form of blood cancer since January. Three weeks ago his condition escalated dramatically, spreading to five tumours around his body.
His doctor had begun prepping him for palliative care as no further treatment was available in New Zealand. But a ground-breaking immunotherapy treatment in Boston could save his life - but it comes at a steep price.