Janelle has stage 4 bowel cancer that has spread. She has been given two short months with her girls & Whanau. They all deserve more.
Northland
Janelle was given two short months, at best, when we created this page. With the continuous outpouring of love & support, gifts & donations, Janelle struggled though everyday, just to get a little bit more time.
Janelle died of bowel cancer almost 11 months to the day she got diagnosed, leaving behind a grieving family and friends, a whole community. But most importantly, her three beautiful children.
Georgia (13), Rebecca (11) and Myrissa (8).
This page's cause is to continue to honor Janelle's strength, courage and bravery but to also raise funds to help support Janelle's three daughters into the future.
Please donate where you can. And go get screened.
Thank you.
ORIGINAL:
“Inoperable, at best 2 months” Please help Janelle Penjueli, mother of three beautiful young girls, in her mission to have a future with her girls, whanau and friends.
Janelle was told she probably had irritable bowel syndrome and should manage her diet better. After presenting herself to the A&E in severe pain, she was told she was constipated.
A few days later, the bomb shell was dropped. Janelle’s world was turned upside down. Janelle was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer.
The emergency surgery was done which removed over a foot and a half of her bowel and an ovary. While Janelle awaited the biopsy results, her health deteriorated. Janelle had a massive infection in her spine as a result of the epidural inserted for her surgery. Janelle was now not only battling the Big C, but a hospital infection as well.
“Cancer” took a back seat as Janelle underwent surgery of her spine to clean it out of infection. At this point, the infection was scarier than the cancer.
Weeks past as Janelle battled the infection, while they tried to find the right antibiotic to kick this infection butt.
The Big C was still in the back seat. Janelle was too weak to even consider treatment for the cancer, the battle field was the infection.
While Janelle battled the infection, Cancer rallied its troops and spread to other battle fields. Janelles cancer metastasised, spread, to her pelvic area. It was aggressive, angrier and badder than ever before.
The prognosis – “Inoperable mass in pelvic area. Go home with pain medication. You have, at best, two months.”
The odds are against Janelle, but we just aren’t ready to give up, like the medical profession has. Janelle wants time. Janelle wants to live. Janelle wants to beat this. Janelle wants to see her three daughters become women. Janelle wants her future back.
What Janelle needs is your help. Janelle needs to seek alternative treatments. Janelle needs her whanau to be with her, not stressed financially. If the worst happens, Janelle needs to know her girls will be “ok”.
Janelle, former Police Woman, Hair Dresser, devoted mother and Christian, who gives, gives gives. This time Janelle needs the kindness of her friends, family and strangers to give her, and her girls, the best chance of the future that they deserve.
Every cent from the Givealittle campaign will go towards Janelle’s fight and her and her girls future.
Help Janelle get her future back by donating. Every cent counts.
I'm involved because I am whanau, I am a friend, I am a mother, sister, aunty and I cannot stand by and give nothing to a woman that gives everything.
All the funds from the very much appreciated and generous donations will go towards Janelle's treatment and if there is anything left over, towards Georgia, Becky and Missy's futures.
Goodbye for now x 23 May 2018
Today we as a community said our final goodbyes to the most selfless, courageous and brave woman
I have ever met. And I know that in these thoughts, I am not alone. During this journey, I have been
told personal stories by so many, about how Janelle touched them with her love, support and acts of
random kindness. I’ve also heard stories about a fierce woman who was ready to stand and fight,
for friends, for family, for those that couldn’t and for strangers. This is how Janelle conducted
herself right up until her final day.
This givealittle page is testimony to how so many felt about Janelle. The selfless Janelle wasn’t sure
about the page at first, but when she accepted that people wanted to support her and that it would
help her and her girls, the courageous and brave Janelle agreed.
But who knew that Janelle had touched so many. I would call and text Janelle as donations came in,
sometimes she would not believe me, sometimes she would cry, but always she was completely
humbled by the outpouring of love, support and donations. And the generosity didn’t stop there, so
many people have given gifts, their services, time and helped her and her family in too many ways to
mention.
Janelle was also one of the most private people I know, yet she shared, openly, this last chapter of
her life with us. But she didn’t share for herself. She shared for her children and for all of us. Janelle
wanted to protect us. She wanted us to know that she was just any regular person that cancer
happened to. Janelle wanted to do what she could to raise awareness and prevent others from her
struggle. Janelle wanted us to know our bodies and to listen to our bodies, over listening to doctors.
A lesson that came too late for Janelle.
But even when that lesson came, Janelle never once complained. She never once blamed. Janelle
accepted that this is the way it was meant to be for her and she made the most of the time she had.
And she suffered everyday, to just have a little more time.
Janelle used her life to quietly, discretely, anonymously to help people. Unwittingly she had woven a
network of love and support. This wrapped itself around Janelle and her family and gave her the
courage and strength to keep up the fight as best she could, because she knew, we were all behind
her.
In her final days, this same thing gave her the peace to let go. Janelle was at peace in the fact that,
she knew that we would all continue to love and look after her family the way she so desperately
wanted to.
I know that Janelle is eternally grateful to all of you. For all of the things you did for her and her
family, especially her girls. I also know that she still doesn’t think she was deserving, but we all know
otherwise.
Be strong
But not rude.
Be kind
but not weak.
Be humble
but not timid
Be proud
But not arrogant.
For me, this is Janelle’s legacy, I am sure she left her own one with you all. On behalf of her family, I
would like to thank you for your love and support throughout this journey and into the future.
Kia kaha to all that loved Janelle. Xx
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