Maxime Fleury, a footballer from Chartres, recently shared a video on social networks, talking about his wife, Julia, suffering from bone marrow leukemia, an illness announced as incurable. To save Julia, only one treatment exists in the United States. Today, the call for generosity has already made it possible to collect more than €200,000 for a goal of at least €250,000.
Losing your other half is the nightmare of every person in love. Maxime Fleury, footballer born in Chartres and player for FC Mondercange, in Luxembourg, has been dealing with the illness of his wife, Julia, for two years. Together, they fight against acute myeloid leukemia.
In a three-minute video posted on October 18 on social networks, the young man tells the camera and with emotion “my wife's heartbreaking story”.
Maxime met Julia in 2019 through their families. “We were happy. We were in the euphoria of the beginning. We only had good news, lots of projects together, lots of things to do. »
It's like our plans are collapsing and everything is getting dark
After their wedding, in June 2022, they are heading to Turkey on their honeymoon. The return will be brutal. Bad news darkens their happiness. “When we returned, the doctors told us terrible news: my wife had acute myeloid leukemia,” confides Maxime Fleury in his video.
An ax that disrupts the couple's plans. “When we learned that, my wife and I, the world collapsed, the sky fell on us, we were coming out of a little cloud after our honeymoon and then we learned that. It's as if our plans are collapsing and everything is going dark. »
Fight the disease
Less than two months after the trip, Julia began a long journey against illness, constantly supported by her husband. “She spent eight months isolated in hospital, alone in a sterile room, undergoing chemotherapy after chemotherapy, before having a bone marrow transplant. »
This is just the beginning of the journey. “We thought she would make it but unfortunately the doctors told us the transplant didn't work. Despite treatment, the disease continued to progress. »
Maxime Fleury continues: “The doctors announced that there are no more treatments available in France and that my wife had a life expectancy of one year. » He does not want to give up. “We continued to fight for a solution and the glimmer of hope came. »
This “miracle” is an experimental treatment only available on the other side of the Atlantic, in the United States. “We found a solution at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston. And, quite clearly, this is the last chance to save my wife. »
This treatment has a price: between €200,000 and €250,000. A new colossal obstacle that stands in the way of healing. Nothing stops this man, ready to do anything to save his wife: “You understand that I am obliged to achieve this insurmountable challenge. I am not giving up, I will fight to the end and with you. »
“Every gesture will count for us”
In order to help the couple finance this expensive treatment, Maxime Fleury relayed a Leetchi* fundraiser. The video ends with an optimistic message and a call for the generosity of Internet users. “Every donation, every share, each with their heart, each at their own level, every gesture will count for us. Your help is really crucial, I thank everyone in advance. I told you my story, that of my wife, but it could be that of anyone. The disease affects everyone, we are all equal in the face of it. Together with our hearts we can all save Julia. »
“The last chance to save my wife”: the distress call from Chartres footballer Maxime Fleury
On Instagram, Maxime Fleury has 4 million views, 60,000 “likes” and more than 1,000 supportive comments. Influencers, footballers, anonymous people… Many of them support the player and his wife in this fight.
“Strength to you”, writes Ricardo Faty, ex-professional player and former C’Chartres Football; “Strength and courage to both, we are with you wholeheartedly,” comments Sébastien-Salles-Lamonge, formerly of the Stade Rennais reserve and professional in the Mexican first division.
Stade Rennais and OGC Nice, where Maxime Fleury played in the past in the youth teams and reserves, also relayed the video on their X accounts.
Our colleagues, Le Parisien, Foot Mercato, RMC Sport and TF1 Infos, like many media, also told the story of the couple and this call for help. Julia and Maxime arrived in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. Julia was able to obtain a first medical appointment there, a consultation synonymous with hope.
An internet platform that allows donations to be collected, anonymous or not depending on the donor's wishes, in an online fundraiser. Jackpot.
Yesterday Thursday, at 6 p.m., the Leetchi prize pool reached €215,355 for more than 10,000 participants. A little less than €40,000 remains to be collected to reach the set objective of €250,000.