An courageous Grimsby dad-of-two who has inspired people around the world after he twice beat the life expectancy he was given after being diagnosed with incurable cancer is fundraising for his funeral costs after being placed on end-of-life care.
Luke Goodwin, 35, was diagnosed with stage four Leiomyosarcoma – a rare type of cancer which makes up just 0.17 percent of all cancers diagnosed each year – in August 2022, after doctors discovered tumours in his liver and lungs.
He was given just a year to live and underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy, defying the 12-month life expectancy. In October last year, Luke was told he had just a few months to live, and defied the oncologist’s expectations once again.
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Speaking previously to Grimsby Live, Luke said: “In October I was told I had ‘months to live’ regardless of whether I had chemo or not. I didn’t think I’d see my daughter’s birthday but I am surprising everyone, including the oncologist.”
But tragically, Luke was told two months ago that the tumour on his liver had grown, affecting his kidneys in the process. He underwent an operation to have a stent put in, before he came down with Covid-19, and subsequently sepsis.
“That was the start of where everything went wrong,” Luke said.
Two weeks ago, just as Luke was preparing to restart his chemotherapy, doctors told him they would be unable to give him the treatment because he had a deficiency in his blood and was suffering with liver failure.
Luke said: “My wife, my mum and my dad were called to hospital in Hull where the doctors explained they couldn’t treat me anymore because my liver is failing. At that point my mum asked what that meant and what the timescale was, and the doctor said it was weeks, and that I was being placed on end-of-life care.
“I don’t think you can prepare for that kind of thing. When they first told me I had 12 months left, it was a shock, but once it went past that, I was thinking, ‘Right, OK, we’ve beat this one, let’s see how far we can go’, but then my oncologist told me it was a matter of months about nine or ten months ago. Then I was placed on end-of-life care.
“I don’t believe what the doctors are saying because I’ve defied them every time. Everything the doctor has said to me I’ve bypassed, but my health has really decreased recently. But I’m here to fight it.”
Through his YouTube channel, I Will Not Be Defeated, Luke has documented his journey since being told he had cancer in a raw and honest manner that has captured the hearts of thousands of people across the world, many of whom also have terminal cancer.
“I speak quite freely on YouTube and document the good and the bad, I have people from all over the world coming to it. If you looked at me before my diagnosis there’s no way I’d have been able to do things like that, so it’s made me into the person I am today,” Luke said.
His wife Beckey and their two children, Taylor, 5, and Scarlett, 3, have been “phenomenal” sources of support, he said.
“Taylor knows I’m not well because I can’t play as rough as I used to with him, but we always seem to find ways of distraction and doing different things with the kids. They aren’t aware of the extreme circumstances of my condition.
“My wife Beckey has really taken it beyond what I expected, she basically picked up everything I used to do in the house and takes the kids out – a lot of the time I’m just laid down – so for her to manage this news that her husband will be dead in a matter of weeks as well as everything else she’s doing, it’s just phenomenal.
“Before going into hospital I could walk past churches and not look at them, but when I came out I started seeing things I’d normally walk straight past, and see the beauty in them. My diagnosis changed a lot of things for me and the way I was with the kids. I wanted to do more stuff with them. Life is too short, and you never know what’s going to happen next.”
Luke and his family have set up a fundraiser through JustGiving, with the aim of raising £10,000 to pay for his funeral expenses and other costs.
The description reads: “I know how expensive funerals and all associated can be, never mind the heartache my family must endure.
“I’ve always found a way to get past what cancer threw at me but of course I am growing weak and would like to make sure my little family have the best I can do, fun times, memories they’ll remember forever and keeping our minds as positive and happy whilst we can.
“Thank you all for your support, the words, comments, letters etc. It really has shown me I have some amazing people with me on and throughout this wild journey.”
You can donate to Luke’s fundraiser by clicking here.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
