Beautiful mother of 5; Jo Watson diagnosed with breast cancer

Jo Watson is a truly beautiful woman who has relentlessly given and supported family, friends and the communities they have lived in over her whole life. Jo is married to Mark and they have 5 gorgeous children. Mackenzie is 19 and her dad - Jo’s first husband died tragically due to a misdiagnosed aortic dissection (heart condition) when she was 8 months pregnant with Mackenzie. Jo and Mark have 4 children together - Sam (15), Jono (13), Elijah (9) and Elizabeth (8 very soon). Jo has a couple of serious medical conditions which cause a lot of pain but she never complains and always puts her family first.

Well now we need to put Jo first. She has just been diagnosed with breast cancer which has spread to her lymph nodes. She is awaiting further tests to see if it has spread any further and then the specialists will confirm the best course of treatment - chemo or operation first. This will be a long, stressful and terrifying at times journey. Jo, Mark and family Live on a remote farming station in the northern region of Southland and therefore have additional challenges of being remote rural, with long hours of travel ahead for tests, treatment and ongoing health care.

To add to this situation - Jo is yet another casualty of the ‘Southern DHB region Cancer Services ’. She identified a new lump and immediately saw her GP in February. Her referral for a mammogram was categorised as ‘non urgent’ instead of ‘urgent’ and despite multiple calls and pleas by Jo - the mammogram was not carried out until the end of July. By this time her cancer has spread making it potentially more difficult to treat.

We know it’s vitally important to circle Jo in love and positivity so we are focussing on the future and letting the specialist investigate this severe oversight in the system.

I have set this give a little page up because I know family and friends are desperate to help and support them over this really hard time - support with additional costs and loss of income. There will be additional stress for the kids and this will help Jo and Mark and the kids escape for some time out together and to get some ready made meals for them so then when Jo is not feeling the greatest through chemotherapy - this just takes a bit of pressure off Jo. I would also dearly love to see these guys be able to get away for a family holiday when Jo finishes her treatment - it’s going to be a very challenging and hard year ahead and with the kids being so young - they really deserve some precious time together as a family with everything they are going through.