Help a Wounded Soldier and his Aiga

Liam Salale is 29 years old, and is a Sergeant posted to Fire Support Group, First Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR) based in Linton Camp, Palmerston North. He has served in the NZ Army for 12 years and is a veteran of operational tours to Afghanistan in 2011 and Iraq in 2015.

Liam lives with his partner Hayley and has two young sons, Kade, (5) and Jaxon (18 months)

In mid-2020, Liam began to experience tingling sensations in his hand, and over the next few months these symptoms would spread and worsen. Being the stoic person he is, Liam continued work as normal despite his physical condition weakening. In early Jan 21, Liam underwent a biopsy in order to obtain a tissue sample from his spine. He also had two metal plates inserted to take the pressure off his spine in hope that this would improve his mobility. Six weeks post biopsy, Liam was unfortunately diagnosed with stage three spinal cancer.

Due to the location of the tumour which sits in between two of his vertebrae on the thoracic spine, the cancer is inoperable, as there would be a high chance that he would be paralysed from the neck down. Liam’s condition has now deteriorated to the point where he has lost 75% function of his limbs and is mostly wheelchair bound. He is currently undergoing radiation, and is now halfway through the cycle in the hope it will decrease the size of the tumour.

Hayley is providing full time care for Liam, while continuing to work from home and care for their children.

Currently as it stands, there have been no visible signs of improvement and his mobility is steadily decreasing. Liam has maintained a positive outlook on life, continues to smile and is tackling each obstacle as it comes. He is a fighter and is ready to go the full 12 rounds.

All the best for your recovery bro. We are all 100% behind you. You got this.