Extend the life of our No.1 Mum

This is her story:

Hi, my name is Ann Paratene and I am a cancer patient with stage IV Melanoma and now terminal. The hospital has said that there is nothing more that they can do for me as the melanoma has spread (metastasized) to too many internal organs. If they had acted in a timelier manner things could have been different. One specialist would say do this and another one do that which led to a bit of indecision and I missed out on a clinical trial. Then one specialist went on holiday for three weeks and nothing was actioned! I don’t know whether it would have made any difference, we will never know.

What I would like help with is the vitamin C infusions which can be quite costly, if it improves my quality of life or extend it in any way would be wonderful.

There are other alternative treatments overseas that are not done here in New Zealand which could be beneficial but that is far out of my reach.

There is one thing that I have on my bucket list and this is to travel on the Alpine Express that goes from Christchurch to the West Coast and back again with my family.

The past three years have been such a stressful time with having to move five times since the Canterbury earthquakes, as we lived in Bexley. It was very difficult just to find a long term place to rent.

During this time I have had two operations to remove melanoma tumors and also continued to work to support myself and my husband, who is also an invalid and hasn’t been able to work now for the past five years due to failing, ill health.

Recently I have had to retire from my work place of 13 years and have just applied for a benefit to see me out for the balance of my life.

I am hoping that you could give a little to help me along my journey.