Hi everyone
This give a little ends in 1 weeks time so Aimee-Rose has put a video together.
Going forward if you would like to follow along on Aimee-Roses journey you can follow her Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092463095486&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Thanks again for donating to help Aimee-Rose and Aaron, it is very much appreciated.
Hi everyone
Wow, it's almost unbelievable to think that in 2 weeks time it is New Years Eve. That date also marks the end of this give a little. When I set this up in May I had zero expectations of how far reaching this page was going to go. There wasn’t a monetary target in place, I just wanted to do what I could to help my sister and her husband. The response in the first week was nothing short of overwhelming. The generosity from friends, family, work colleagues and strangers was and is incredible plus the wonderful messages of support received. It's also opened up doors for Aimee-Rose to appear on one of the leaders debates to campaign for a lower screening age (tick tock) and also for us to raise awareness that bowel cancer can affect anyone, at any age and not to sit on your symptoms.
There's two weeks left of this give a little and I know that that comes at an already financially busy time of the year. So this post is simply to say thank you for donating and thank you for following. Aimee-Rose has one round of chemo and a PET scan left and then she is taking a 3 month break from chemo. What happens after that is uncertain but know that your donation has helped so so much.
Have a wonderful Christmas break and thank you again 💛
Hey team. Not great news this time unfortunately.
The good news is that the radiation has worked and the spot isn't an issue anymore.
The bad news is that 3 or 4 lymph nodes have popped up that weren't there before. They are small, but active. This means that my chemo isn't working as the cancer thinks its smarter.
Saint Sanjeev has given me a couple of options. He said I can take a little break from chemo and start again next year. Another option is changing up my chemo regime and I'd swap one drug out for another (Oxaliplaten for Irinotecan). He told me to take the weekend to decide which I will do.
News like this is always tough to receive, especially after having a small amount of hope on the radar. As always, I'm thankful for all the support I have. I always feel so uplifted by everyone and I am so grateful for you all.
This week I participated in a Bowel Cancer New Zealand Zoom conversation as part of their "Never too young" campaign. Myself and two other people diagnosed with bowel cancer spent just under an hour chatting about our diagnosis, how our treatments have been and the support network we have. Link to the YouTube video is here if you want to watch it.
Aimee-Rose is currently going through round 5 of this chemo cycle, this cycle has been a lot rougher on her side effects wise and mental health wise. But in typical Aimee-Rose fashion she is keeping busy, moonlighting as a lobster at the school choir performance this week and putting up the Christmas tree.
Aimee-Rose has her next PET scan on Tuesday the 14th with the results meeting on Friday the 17th. On the Tuesday evening she is part of a webinar hosted by Bowel Cancer New Zealand called "Never too young" made up of a panel of young people diagnosed with bowel cancer discussing their journey so far with one of the nurse support coordinators, who knew our mum back when she was going through her own cancer journey.
The link to the webinar is below if you want to register.
Aimee-Rose was contacted by one of Patrick's team who saw this GiveaLittle and wanted to know more about her story. After chatting, Aimee-Rose was asked if she'd like to come along to the leaders debate to pose a question to be answered by 2 of the leaders. Initially she was very hesitant. It was a chemo day, the first one since the end of August when she took a short break to have radiation treatment so she would be tired, nauseous and carrying her pump.
Watching the debate, I was blown away by Aimee-Roses poise, maturity and touch of classic Aimee-Rose humour. She's given a voice and a face to those living with bowel cancer and highlighted that the current screening age (60) isn't low enough. I'm so unbelievably proud of her and I really hope that the commitments made by those leaders at the debate will actually happen.
🎥 Here's a terribly edited clip below of Aimee-Roses question being asked and her thoughts after the debate.
GOOD NEWS (finally!)
Saint Sanjeev came through with the PET scan results and all the vomiting and diarrhoea has been worth it. All of my spots have "dramatically reduced" in size. Most of the areas we are looking at aren't taking on radioactive glucose, which means they are not as active. One spot is brighter than the rest, which Sanjeev and I are talking about targeted radiation (not at this stage, but in the future).
My new chemo regime looks pretty much the same as the last, minus Oxaliplatin. This is the drug that has the fun side effect of permanent nerve damage, which usually happens after 3 months. I'm looking forward to being able to eat, drink and touch cold things 24/7!
Once again, thank you all for all the support. I am so lucky to have such an amazing village surrounding me. I may have cancer, but cancer certainly does not have me!
Hi everyone,
I cannot believe the overwhelming support I have been blessed with since going live on here 2 weeks ago. I feel so lucky to have all of you in my corner. Round 4 starts today, and only 2 more rounds until I have a scan and we see what the results of my hard work are!
https://www.myetickets.co.nz/tickets/252/details - link to buy tickets to the Barbie fundraiser on August 2nd
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092463095486 - my Facebook page where I post updates and general life with cancer things.
Aimee Rose
It's been a week since this page went live and wow. There are no words to accurately describe how overwhelmingly supported we feel. Please know that every single donation has been celebrated and the words of encouragement and humour have been passed along to Aimee-Rose. The battle ahead is hopefully a long one and with your help, one that has financially been made a little bit easier. Aimee-Rose will be posting health updates on her Facebook page for those wanting to follow her journey and this page is accepting donations until the end of the year.
Thank you, from a very grateful older sister
Sending our love Aimee Rose, here for any support you need 💜
