Whilst
on holiday during August 2008, Gary had been experiencing facial pain in his
right cheek. On his return from holiday he visited his dentist for x-rays with further
investigations taking place at the Maxillo Facial Department at Northampton General
Hospital. The weeks passed and with the pain increasing an MRI head and neck
scan was arranged for the 22nd October, an appointment Gary attended before
leaving to watch his beloved Chelsea play Roma in a Champions League home game.
Even though Gary was still experiencing facial pain he continued to watch Chelsea play home and away (his last away game being against Manchester United and his final home game being against Stoke City in January 2009) and was determined to carry out his new role as a Sales Engineer for his new employers which involved travelling to Holland in November 2008.
On
the 3rd December the results of the MRI scan revealed “nothing unusual” which put
Gary in a great frame of mind as later that day he travelled to Birmingham with
his family to watch a Coldplay concert.We
will never forget that evening as just like a match day he would start the
chanting, which carried on all around the arena.
As
Christmas approached the continuation of intense facial pain and the loss of
Gary’s voice, led to Gary being informed by a duty doctor that he possibly had laryngitis. He was advised that if there was no
improvement within three weeks he should return to the surgery and he would be
referred to the Ear Nose and Throat Department at Northampton General Hospital.
After
visiting the Ear Nose and Throat Department on the 10th February
2009, Gary was referred for a head and neck CT scan as there appeared to be a
right vocal cord palsy.The scan results
revealed that there was a mass in the right supraclavicular region measuring
3.7cm x 3.4cm which was encasing the right carotid artery with poor flow and
completely occluding the right internal jugular vein.
The
results of a biopsy on the 27th February 2009 confirmed that the mass was a
secondary tumour and further tests would have to be carried out to ascertain
the location of the primary site as no primary tumour had been identified.
Within 48hours Gary was referred to the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester for a lung x-ray to determine whether the primary tumour was located in the lungs. However this wasn't the case therefore a PET scan and an
admission to Knightley Ward at Northampton General Hospital for a further biopsy
to be taken was arranged, as it was still not apparent where the primary tumour was located. Unfortunately
despite the above tests being carried out there was no further indication of
where the primary tumour was.
As a result of only being able to identify a secondary
tumour, Gary was treated as a head and neck patient. Throughout the following
months Gary was admitted to Talbot Butler Ward on many occasions where he
received four chemotherapy regimes, a blood transfusion and care after
surgery.After completing 6 weeks of
radiotherapy in addition to chemotherapy, Gary remained on the ward for a
further three weeks during late August/September after developing Neutropenia.
On
his return to Talbot Butler Ward on 12th October 2009, Gary was informed that his
cancer was incurable as brain metastases had developed.At the end of October Gary received a week of
radiotherapy to the brain, before taking a holiday with his family to Weymouth.
When
Gary returned from Weymouth he visited the Royal Marsden Hospital where he received
a second opinion on the treatments that he had already received and any further
treatment that should be undertaken.
Gary
then met with his Consultant at the end of November, who informed him that a
further regime of chemotherapy would take place weekly over four weeks. This
was a chemotherapy plan which had been decided based on Gary’s quality of life
and the time he had left to spend with his family.Unfortunately Gary was unable to complete the
regime as he developed breathing problems.
Gary
often spoke about his cancer and the journey ahead of him. Irrespective of the
outcome he had expressed that the staff of Talbot Butler Ward should be
recognised for the care, support, and dedication that had been shown to him
during his illness.
On
11th January 2010 after being admitted to Talbot Butler Ward for the final time
Gary was asked whether he would like to return home or go to a hospice. After
asking whether Gary could go to Danetre Hospital as he did not wish to spend
his last days at home, he was transferred the next day to Cawthorne Ward.
The
welcome received from the staff on the ward and the comfortable surroundings
instantly made Gary feel settled. The facilities available enabled many family
members to be with Gary during his last hours. In addition to this the support
given by the dedicated staff, not only to Gary, but all family members will
never be forgotten.
To
show our appreciation to the two wards that cared for Gary during his illness a
cheque for £1263.00 was presented to Talbot Ward and a cheque for £1100.00
presented to Cawthorne Ward which represented donations received from family
and friends.
After
the donations were made to the two wards it was decided to take the fundraising
further and to create The Gary Barton Memorial Trust.
The
trust has been created in order to raise money to provide and assist in the
provision of facilities, support services and equipment for both wards.