The Starlight
Fund was set up to honour Paul Ballantyne who passed from this world in January
2011. While living in
Melbourne, Australia, Paul had experienced severe headaches and was diagnosed with
stage 4 melanoma which had metastasized in his brain.
Paul had a
high-risk brain tumor operation within days of his diagnosis. The surgeon did a
fantastic job, but sadly the tumor returned a few months later and a second
brain operation was required. By this time however the cancer was throughout
his body and Paul lost his fight with cancer around 6 months after his
diagnosis.
Paul was
extremely grateful for the quality of the care he received from Alfred staff
and had nothing but praise for the nurses, doctors and surgeons.
To thank the
Alfred Hospital for their care of Paul, early in 2014, Paul’s brother and
sister-in-law, Mike and Jen Ballantyne donated funds towards the purchase of much needed neurological microsurgery
surgical instruments.
We hope that in
providing these instruments, the "rock star" surgeons, as Paul
referred to them, will be able to help improve and save the lives of others.
