Help Les make as many amazing memories with and for her babies

Les is a hardworking, outgoing and loving person, most important to her is being a Mum to a handsome 3 year old boy Karaitiana and her beautiful 17 year old daughter Roimata.

Les has always been a support person to anyone needing a hand, she has a huge heart and a cease the day attitude. Sports and hiking have been a huge part of her life and her competitive nature drives her to try new things. Les is determined to beat this @#$%& in order to make more amazing memories with and for her babies.

Les injured her right shoulder end of February and symptoms were all consistent with Bursitis an impingement, inflamed Infraspinatus and Supraspinatus and Costochondritis. Tramadol and Physio was recommended by specialist number 1.

During COVID it did not improve so in level 3 end of April Les returned to see the specialist who advised all symptoms are common with this trauma and handed her care over to a Physio. She had a cortisone shot in May and her symptoms still didn't improve so she sought a second opinion. The GP ran bloods with the only irregularity being an Alk P 300% higher than normal, so by process of elimination results were pointing towards a possible bone reconstruction.

Specialist number 2 ordered a Bone SPECT CT. We all thought Arthritis or Osteoporosis on Monday 29 June following the Bone SPECT CT Les was called in by her GP who regrettably informed her that she has Metastatic Bone Disease - Cancer in the bones and they needed to assess her to determine where it originated from and how best to treat it.

After thorough testing in Middlemore Hospital it was confirmed on Monday 6 July the cancer originated from the stomach and now is in her bones particularly the spine, left shoulder and right hip. The mass is siting at the base of her neck C7 to T10 putting pressure on her nerve system and spinal cord. Surgeons advised it is not operable as it's too close to the spinal cord but without treatment could render her paralyzed.

There is no cure but the hope is that with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy will stop it from growing and allow Les more time with her babies. Les has completed 5 sessions of back to back Radiotherapy and will start 2 months of aggressive chemotherapy on Friday 7th August.

Les and her boy are based in Auckland once she finishes Chemo they will relocate to Wellington to be closer to her daughter and wider whanau support where she will set her boy up for transition to make it easier for him.

"I hope this will show you sis you are loved, gives you strength when you need it most, helps lighten the financial burden so you can stay focus on being present, stopping this !@#$* in it's tracks and enjoying life to its fullest. You are not alone - we love you!