Money raised by dying boy to help buy brain cancer treatment machine

The procurement process for a machine used to treat brainstem cancer in children has been started. Six year old Tijn, who died of this cancer last year, raised more than a million euros to help pay for this device.

After several talks with board members of VUmc and Princess Maxima Center, it was decided to have the robot installed in the new Princess Maxima Center in Utrecht", foundation Semmy announced, NU.nl reports. It is not yet known when the machine will arrive in the Netherlands, but the process is underway. "The expectation is that it will at least take another six months to a year before the children can be treated."

The machine administers medicines directly into the brainstem tumor, much more accurately than a human hand can manage it.

Tijn passed away at the age of 6 of brainstem cancer in July last year. This rare form of childhood cancer is diagnosed in between 15 and 20 children in the Netherlands each year. Tijn launched a nail polish action for Serious Request to raise money for this machine. In May last year, Tijn's own brand of nail polish was launched, called 'Lak door Tijn'. Proceeds made with the sale of this nail polish also went to the purchase of the machine.