Heather's Best Fight! 💪🥊🏆

More than 10 years ago now, my little sister Heather was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 22 (a grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma glioma brain tumour). This is a rather long story/timeline but the battle has been real and Heather deserves more than a medal and round of applause for what she has been though.

My sister fought strong and was blessed with an excellent team of doctors and surgeons who would performed an "awake craniotomy" in March of 2011, at Auckland Hospital. They removed as much of the tumour as possible from her brain, without affecting the parts of her speech and mobility where the tumour was spreading. After surgery she went through a course of radiotherapy followed by six months of chemotherapy. Luckily follow up scans showed that most of the tumour was removed and continuing to reduce, however with this particular type of cancer there is a high probability for the tumor to return. Her prognosis was estimated to be five years before it could potentially return. But it within only 4 years it came back for round 2 😔

So in 2015 Heather went into battle again, another round of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. This time we discovered there was a drug called Avastin (it is a tumour-starving (anti-angiogenic) therapy. The purpose of Avastin is to prevent the growth of new blood vessels) which was funded in Australia but not in New Zealand. The cost was in excess of $50,000! We started a Givealittle page (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/helpheatherfight) that some of you may remember, and received amazing support from not only friends and family but also from the wider community and in particular West Liquor where Heather worked as a duty manager at the stores in West Auckland. They did an amazing job of fundraising and sausage sizzles and the goal was reached!!! (even though a donation box was stolen, the NZ Herald reporting on this meant she had even more support, New Zealand you really rock!! https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/donation-box-theft-leaves-woman-with-brain-tumour-sickened/K67UOETN43KWMRHW56YQNHHZDE/)

As Heather was able to pay for the Avastin treatment in the end, she was then entitled to receive this drug as and when needed for the rest of her life. We are all super grateful as there is no doubt this has played a huge part in extending her life as well as improving the quality of life she has had to date.

The following year was tough as Heather continued to have treatment, seizures, and more doctors visits than she could count through 2016. By the start of 2017 it seemed that Heather had won the fight yet again! After almost 2 years of battling through she could come off some of the drugs she was taking, was feeling better about life and living happier and healthier than she had been in a while. Then SURPRISE! Unexpectedly Heather fell pregnant to her partner Josh (she believed that after all the treatment she was more than likely infertile). Her pregnancy didn't have many complications and she gave birth to a perfectly happy and healthy son called Phoenix on 20 March 2018.

Unfortunately later that year, a series of seizures followed by scans showed that nasty Mr. Tumour hadn't given up and wanted yet another rematch........so Heather went back to surgery and back onto treatment, this time with a young son to look after. By August 2019 it seemed Heather was out of the woods again, it was coming up 9.5 years since the initial diagnosis, her daughter Ayla was 14 and son Phoenix 17 months. Her health appeared to be stable and she was engaged to her partner Josh whom she planned to wed in May 2020! 💑 Unfortunately a global pandemic was around the corner and things didn't exactly go to plan, however in October 2020 Heather and Josh were able to have a lovely wedding attended by a small group of close family and friends.

Even though the world was in turmoil, with many countries in lockdown dealing with an unprecedented pandemic, things were looking up for Heather and her young family. That was until the new year came around in 2021, only 2 years and 2 months after her last surgery she received the unfortunately news that after a few seizures the tumour wasn't laying dormant for any longer and this time was back with a vengeance 😭

The doctors had to do something fast so in February 2021 Heather went back under the knife, I mean how many times can they actually open you up! Huge credit to the amazing doctors and surgeons in New Zealand who have followed, advised and been by her side throughout the years. They did what they could and removed a decent portion of the tumor. Heather juggled motherhood, moving house and surgery yet again like a pro (which she definitely is by now!). This time a course of radiotherapy following surgery was out of the question seeing as she's at her lifetime limit, so all hope was on the tumour staying at bay for a few more years to come at least.

Alas Heather was not that lucky, although she recovered really well from the surgery, only a month later at her check up scan it was discovered that the f*$%$&g tumor was completely back!! Now what? More brain surgery is not an option, nor is radiotherapy. So the doctors put her back on chemotherapy and Avastin in the hope of prolonging her life as much as possible, whilst also getting palliative care and hospice involved to support her and help her put her affairs in order. The doctors have said it is now officially terminal (well it kind of was from the start, just with a longer outlook) and at her latest appointment in August 2021 the decision was made to stop with the remaining chemotherapy treatments as they are not improving her quality of life, nor are the drugs having an effect on the tumour any more. We were also sadly told that Christmas 2021 will most likely be Heather's last. Her brain is experiencing fatigue and will sadly continue to deteriorate which means she will begin to need more help and assistance as time passes.

Which comes to the reason for creating this Givealittle page, whilst there is a fantastic public health system in New Zealand and all Heather's chemotherapy is funded including support from hospice and the Salvation Army, we are looking to support Heather and improve the quality of her life during which appears to be her best and final fight yet. This could include alternative therapies which are not government funded, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, intravenous vitamin C treatment (which she has already started), nutritionists and anything else that could potentially help her health, energy, moods and overall quality of live as well as her mental wellbeing. She will need in home support for, which a part of is government funded, but for other aspects she doesn't qualify. We would also like to help Heather spend as much quality time with her children and family as possible, whether this be weekend get aways or a special night out to dinner with her husband and kids if she's feeling up to it. We are absolutely open to suggestions and ideas if anyone has anything to offer in terms of either personal experiences or those of others with therapies, alternative medicines or anything else you may think could be beneficial.

We know Heather has been very lucky and outdone herself given the statistics for this type of tumour, but are being realistic and know that miracles are few and far between at this point so will be focusing on giving her what we can in terms of support, alternative treatments and of course lots and lots of love ❤

Finally, I'm Heather's older sister Kayley. I left New Zealand in April 2013 and have since been living in Rome, Italy. The first time around I was by my sisters side through it all, helping out with my niece, seeing her in my lunch breaks and after work while she was at the hospital recovering from surgery. As a big sister it was pretty upsetting to see your little sister going through such a tough struggle, and naturally you end up wishing it was you instead. For these more recent battles I have only been able to support her from a distance - however this time around I have made the decision to return home and be ringside next to my sister supporting her as much as possible with her health, life and young family.

There are various photos in the gallery showing Heather and differnet phases of her life, from being a young mother, with family and friends, wedding photos and some pics of the brain scans. She has also been given grants every few years for wigs (which you can see in her wedding photos and a few others).

There is also a FB page set up where Heather has documented her journey over many years, she has shared photos of family, details of her struggles , https://www.facebook.com/helpheathermoore

You can follow Heather's journey, raise awareness and send her messages of love and support. We know that the last few years have put many people under financial strain, so please only donate if you can. Otherwise sharing your prayers, love and support are just as equally appreciated ❤