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Help this amazing Wife, Mother, Nana with the gift of time...

  • Natural alternatives

      3 November 2018
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    On Friday the 19th October we got the news we knew one day would come but secretly hoped never would!

    Mums cancer was spreading through her lungs and quickly...Radiation had worked on the larger tumours but because of the type of cancer mum has (small cell) the tumours are now all through her lungs and are too small to individually target with radiation.

    The oncologist has said at this stage there is not much more they could do!

    They did suggest one last long shot - sending some of mums biopsy to America for testing to see if they had any drugs we could consider - an expensive exercise but one we of course did not think twice about.

    We hope to have results for this in the next few weeks with some options to consider.

    We are not willing to give up or put all of mums eggs in one basket so have been spending a lot of time researching leads of different private treatment clinics here in NZ and investigating natural alternatives.

    Mum has just started TBL12 sea cucumber - yes you read that right… A mixture of sea cucumber, sea sponge and shark fin... this concoction has actually been approved by the FDA in America and has been proven to do some amazing things to help build immunity and fight cancers!

    Some of you may not know that mum also has another grand baby on the way - Due April 2019 and we desperately want them to meet so we have everything crossed for positive news from the tests in America and that those little cucumbers can work us some magic!

    All we hope and pray for everyday is more time

    Keep mum in your thoughts as I truly believe in the power of positivity and people

    xx

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  • An update from mum

      3 September 2018
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    This week marks a year from my first diagnoses where I was told I had between 4/6mths. This is something that I will never ever forget being told, but i'm still here enjoying my awesome husband & beautiful family & wonderful friends.

    I hold my breath every time I meet with my specialist to discuss the results of my scan wondering what the news is going to be.... This is not a feeling I would wish on anybody.

    Small Cell lung cancer is not a common cancer so there is not a lot of treatments options available to me.

    Even though NZ is behind many countries with our cancer treatment trials and options, I feel very lucky to be in a small country with amazing people who are so kind when i'm having treatment, it goes a long way when your not sure how much time you have on your side. Our public health system in my eyes is amazing.

    A quick update on whats been happening with my treatment... I have just had another round of radiation in Waikato, i'm currently feeling the effects of tiredness, but feel very lucky that’s all I get as far as side effects go. I have gone from being bald during chemo treatment to now having a FULL head of curly hair!

    Now I wait till mid October for another scan & update on how things are progressing.

    I’m also still in touch with a really nice Oncologist at the Sydney university who I send all my scans & notes to which he reviews and always gives me his take on my status, which gives me confidence that the current treatment plan is the correct one.

    All I need now is for the big brake through of a wonder drug to kill this awful Small Cell lung cancer, instead of just shrinking it, that said i'm very grateful for any treatment that buys me time. Some people don’t get a chance at all.

    As I always say- there is lots of folks worse off than me out there.

    Once again thanks to everybody for all your support & generous donations, I’ll be forever grateful.

    God bless you all

    X0

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  • 42 years .....

      26 July 2018
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    Its been a while since my last update on mum.

    I wanted to wait until we received the results from her latest scan after the radiation treatment.

    IT WORKED... The main tumour that they targeted has shrunk!

    It was measuring 32 x 41mm and now its measuring 19 x 8mm - WOW! So nice to finally received some good news - (doing a little happy dance)

    BUT there is a new tumour that is growing quite quickly near her stomach so the oncologist wants mum to have another round of radiation to target that tumour now that he knows her body responds so well to radiation.

    While this is not a cure for mum its giving us the gift of time that we all so desperately hoped for.

    Last week mum was hit hard by a virus which took her down for about a week but she has bounced back as only mum can and was up in Auckland celebrating Oscar turning three last week - So lucky to be able to create these memories that we can all treasure.

    July also brought with it 42 years of marriage for mum and dad - WOW now that is true love right and something they should be very proud of!...

    Keep sending your positive thoughts and messages as I truly believe that positivity creates magic we all need a little magic in our day x

    NB: I have extended this page for another 12 months as mums cancer journey takes its twists and turns so you can all follow along, share and donate to her cause

    Ange

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  • Whats next ....

      4 July 2018
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    Mum is slowly recovering after the pretty nasty side effects from her radiation treatment, She will be having a scan next week to see how the radiation worked and meets with her oncologist the following week to review the results and decide if its best to start chemo straight away or give her body a break for a short time.

    Im excited that they want to try more chemo as that will hopefully continue to give us the gift of time but I worry for mum and the toll that it takes on her body.. One of the main side effects of Chemo is that it kills off most of your white blood cells which the body needs to fight infection and illness and with winter being well and truly apon us (bloody 1 deg we woke up to in Taupo today) we need to make sure we keep her safe and wrapped in cotton wool!

    Strange how things happen - the chemo they are talking about giving her is the same type that she had almost 15 years ago to the day for her breast cancer??

    Mum is so grateful for all of your support and well wises - its times like this when you really need all your friends and loved ones around

    We continue to research daily in the hope that today will be the say they find the cure

    Last weekend we took a trip to the snow with the kids - check out the love and happiness in this cute pic

    Ange

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  • Radiation and what follows ...

      20 June 2018
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    Two weeks now since mum completed her round of radiation, amazing how fast the actual treatment took - in and out most days in about 15 minutes.

    Two weeks on from the treatment and mum is feeling the full affects of the treatment, Nausea, Sore throat and mad itchy rash but as i said to mum today hopefully having these crazy annoying side effects means that its really working??? - We now wait another two months for a scan to see how things are looking Talk about having everything crossed!

    We finally heard back from the health minister who thanked mum for her email and then politely told her there was nothing he could do and maybe she should contact the drug company... Kinda feel like he missed the point... This email was not just about mum but for everybody that Keytruda could help - how can they justify charging such a crazy amount of money for a drug that can potentially save lives! Madness

    We will continue to explore different treatments for mum in both traditional and holistic avenues - Mum is prepared to give anything a go!

    This picture is of mum her brother and sisters of which mum in the youngest - they spent a day a few months ago together for the first time in a long time down at the 'Whare' that mum and dad have built of the last few years ... A very special time for them all.

    As always we could not travel this journey without the love, support and generosity of all of you!

    XXX

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  • Never giving up and best mates

      2 June 2018
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    Next week will mark another step in mums journey fighting the dreaded big C

    On Monday she will start radiation, they will target the main tumour in the centre of her chest that is now well over the size of a grown mans fist.

    At this stage they will give her 5 consecutive days of radiation and then reassess after that how the treatment is working and what the next steps will be.

    Mum told me after seeing the radiation oncologist that he looked about 14 and was such a nice DR.. He said to her "Why do good people have shit things like this happen to them and you twice" - (Some of you may or may not know that 15 years ago successfully beat breast cancer) ..... bloody good question mate I say!

    Mum has decided that she is going to start intravenous vitamin c as more and more people have success stories from this treatment - Stay tuned for how we go with this one!

    As always mums sheer determination to live and her will to fight in what must be one of the scariest battles of her life is something that she should be very proud of as I know we are and its times like this where the people around you help the most - This picture is of mum and dad with their best mates Shon and Russ who never let a day pass without checking in on mum and dad.... Bloody legends!

    Send mum all your positive energy and as always your support and contribution to her journey is humbling

    Ange

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  • Next steps...

      18 May 2018
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    Last week mum had her follow up Keytruda scan and met with her oncologist yesterday for the outcome... Every minute felt like an hour yesterday and I must have checked the clock 1000 times waiting for mums call with the outcome of the scan.

    The results were a mixed bag..

    While some of the small tumours have completely disappeared there are now new growths in the lymph nodes around her lungs, this is the scary thing about small cell lung cancer it's so aggressive that almost every week things can change.

    While the oncologist said that the Keytruda had worked to a point (also shrinking the size of the main tumour too) she did not feel that there was any point continuing with treatment as they were hoping for better results - but the good news... she wanted to suggest a new approach...

    So starting in the next few weeks mum will start radiation treatment - they are going to try and cook the little fuckers!

    While this is not the ultimate outcome we were hoping for it means this is still a chance to continue to fight!

    Mum has a tough few months ahead with radiation every single day in Hamilton meaning that she will have to commute from Taupo every day for 15 minutes of treatment!

    We will all pull together to be with her through the next step of her journey and continue to need your support to help towards the costs associated with this new phase as her fight continues - so as always please dig deep and share share share!

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  • What did Jacinda have to say...

      30 April 2018
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    I know a few of you have been following to see what response mum received to the message she sent to Jacinda...

    Well simply her PA replied that Jacinda was to busy to respond to each message personally and that mum should contact the Health Minister David Clark ... I know this was really disappointing for mum to receive such a flippant response!

    However as mum does she picked up and did just that - Emailed Dr David Clark and asked why it was taking so bloody long to make a decision... His response was a lot more positive, basically saying - thats a good question and he would investigate and get back to her! So now we wait.......

    Mum is due for another Ketruda treatment this week and now has the dates for her follow up scan in late May. We all have everything crossed for positive results ... Please keep everything of yours crossed too!

    Last week we celebrated our little Charlie turning ONE.. Such a great weekend with family creating more of those special treasured memories!

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  • Keytruda take three...

      16 April 2018
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    Last week mum had her third round of Keytruda, and has been feeling very bright and well - Keytruda seems to be so much kinder on the body than chemo!

    Her picc line that she had put in her arm in October to administer her chemo had managed to pull all the way out so last week she had to go through another small surgery to have it replaced. The line is put into a large vein in your arm and they guide the catheter up into the main vein near your heart where blood flows quickly, With all the money she is spending on each Keytuda treatment we want to make sure its given the best chance to work..

    Another 21 days till mums next treatment and hopefully one step closer to shrinking cancer tumours

    As always this page is only as successful as we make it and its all about exposure and views so please share and encourage your family and friends to so the same!

    Thank you as always for your support!

    Ange

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  • Easter fun and why is Keytruda not funded .....

      7 April 2018
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    Last weekend we celebrated like many years before as a family for Easter but this one was just that little bit more special and treasured - with lots of love, fun, egg hunting and chocolate shared... More memories banked!

    Mum has been feeling a little low on energy the last few days and frustrated that Keytruda is funded for some cancers but not others - Like lung cancer so she decided to ask Jacinda Ardern why..

    Yep thats right she sent the PM a PM (private message) on FB to ask her why this was the case - Go mum!

    Lets see if she hears back - stay tuned for the outcome of this wee gem!

    We are only $2.5k away from covering one of mums treatments lets see if we can pull together to get across this milestone this week!

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  • Keytruda take two...

      29 March 2018
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    Last week mum had her second round of Keytruda she tells us that see feels much better after a Keytruda treatment then she ever did after chemo.

    The main side effect is tiredness which hits mum around mid afternoon most days... Mum amazes me how positive and focussed on getting well she has remained throughout her fight against this awful cancer!

    If positivity could beat this tumour she would have it nailed!

    Here she is all hooked up for her treatment and look her hair is growing back - in a cool silver Mohawk 😂!

    The best way to support mum is to keep sharing her page - it costs nothing and the more people that see it the better!

    Let’s keep the momentum going 🙏🏼

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  • Celebrating three weeks of marriage

      20 March 2018
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    Three weeks ago today my brother Sam and his fiancé Holly said “I do” with a intimate ceremony surrounded by immediate family.

    Holly’s words sum up life right now for us as a family..... ❤️

    “Sometimes life doesn't always go to plan, and things happen that make you re-think what is truely important....and for us, it was to be married in front of our immediate families. Today we snuck away to the other side of beautiful lake Taupo, with our gorgeous families and children to elope. We had our extended families and friends in our hearts. Lots of love Mr & Mrs Dudley”

    What a wonderful day we had creating memories that will last forever.

    Let’s buy mum some time to create many more!

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  • Meet mum's two smallest grandkids ...

      13 March 2018
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    These are mums two youngest grandchildren Charlie who is 10 months old and Sienna who is now 3 months old..

    This photo was taken when Sienna was two days old on Christmas eve!

    Just two more gorgeous reasons for mum to fight for more time to send with these two bubba's!

    Thanks to those that have already donated! Please keep sharing and following mums cause.

    One more week until mums next Keytruda treatment!

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