Help Ailien Fight Cancer and Care for Her Son
A fundraiser to help Ailien access life-saving immunotherapy treatment for stage 4 cervical cancer.
Christchurch, Canterbury
It is difficult to write this because we are so used to seeing sad stories online that they often feel distant, until it happens to someone you love deeply.
Ailien came to New Zealand with the dream of building a better future and bringing her son to live with her. Three years ago, that dream finally came true, and she has worked hard to build a life for them here.
Two years ago, during a routine check-up, doctors discovered a tumour in her cervix, even though she had no symptoms. After further tests, we received the heartbreaking news: it was cancer.
Thankfully, the New Zealand healthcare system acted quickly, and she began chemotherapy and radiation treatment. For a while, the tumour disappeared, and we finally felt hope again.
Sadly, the cancer has now returned and spread to nearby lymph nodes. Ailien is now facing stage 4 cancer.
Her only option now is immunotherapy, which is not funded in New Zealand but is essential for her treatment. Each dose costs around $10,000 NZD, and she needs treatment every three weeks for two years.
Ailien is a loving mother, friend, and person who continues to face this battle with strength and courage, even on the hardest days.
We never imagined we would have to ask for help like this, but any donation or even simply sharing this page would mean the world to us and help give her more time with her son and the people who love her.
We choose to focus on her strength, her smile, and the future she still deserves.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Ninoska Olivares' involvement (page creator)
Ailien is my sister
Use of funds
The main purpose is to fund the 35 cycles of Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an essential immunotherapy treatment for cancer, and to help cover any associated costs.
Latest update
Cost updated 19 May 2026
After receiving the official quote from the private Centre, we now have a much clearer understanding of the real cost of Ailien's treatment.
The original estimate we were given was based on the possibility of needing treatment every 3 weeks for up to 2 years, which initially made the projected costs extremely high.
The good news is that we only need to cover the first 8 doses of the treatment, because the remaining doses will be covered through a pharmaceutical support programme. This has reduced the estimated total cost over 2 years to approximately $150,000 NZD, rather than the much higher amount we originally feared.
This updated goal reflects ongoing treatment costs, specialist care, infusions, and the remaining out-of-pocket expenses not covered by the programme.
Thank you for every donation, share, message, and kind word. The support my son and I have received means more than I could ever explain.
Ailien
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