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Baxter's Battle

  • An update from Baxter and Fiona!

      12 October 2026

    Baxter has now received the second dose of the now partially-funded treatment he needs. Due to the potential for side effects, the doses are spread two weeks apart and it is always a nervous day. Will he suffer the tingling that may lead to permanent nerve damage? How much nausea? Are there signs of hair loss?

    So far he has reported nausea and tingling but so far so good – the tingling has stopped.

    We are all cautiously hopeful that the tumours are not getting any worse and may hopefully even start improving.

    While having a stoma and a catheter are not for everyone, for Baxter it has been a game changer, enabling him to be able to focus on his wellbeing and not on constant pain.

    You’ll likely have seen that he has even started campaigning, so others do not have to go what he went through in taking so long to get a diagnosis. Health New Zealand do say they are reintroducing a face-to-face dermatology clinic in Dunedin, but they have said this before.

    You have all done so much already, but if you have a moment consider signing Baxter’s parliamentary petition at https://petitions.parliament.nz/02bdeb53-7678-47d6-458b-08df1dcea7c0?lang=en and if you come across people in your life who have suffered without a face-to-face specialist service, encourage them to speak out. Baxter only has one (very loud!) voice – the more people who share their stories the more we will be listened to.

    Thank you again for the support and kindness.

    Baxter and Fiona

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  • An update from Baxter!

      16 September 2026

    Kia ora and hello! An update from Baxter (and Fiona!)

    Some good news... As many will have seen I've been having a bit of a miserable time of it being hospitalised for the last two weeks (not helped by under-staffing levels) dealing with side-effects of the cancer, but - touch wood - things look to possibly be at a possible good turning point, plus significantly Pharmac have been persuaded to fund the first 7 treatments of the more effective (and more expensive cancer drug) that is not usually funded for my cancer (with the implication the rest of the treatments will be funded if it looks to be working). Yay. And thanks greatly to the many volunteers who helped start to make my house livable for my mobility deficits etc, and donors to a give-a-little my partner's workplace started on their own initiative :) All this will help make a massive difference to my cancer journey. Thanks immensely 😁

    Further, it's good to see HNZ making promises of some sort of direct access to dermatological services will return for Dunedin people soon, but perhaps politicians need to step-up and back up such promises with funding promises for an adequate service service.

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  • A very big thank you!

      11 September 2026

    Kia ora koutou,

    A very huge thank you to the 120 of you who have donated to Baxter's givealittle over the last fortnight! Seeing these donations and reading your comments have been an incredibly heartwarming experience. Both Fiona and Baxter have seen these, and are feeling the love of their whānau, friends and community.

    Can I ask that you continue to spread this givealittle page through your networks. Sharing the page is incredibly valuable and will help us reach more of the community.

    Arohanui.

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