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Help Vanessa Beat Cancer

  • Sad News

      26 March 2021

    Hi everyone, we had hoped that the last update was to be the final one as we only kept the page open to support Vanessa’s successful recovery, however, two weeks ago we were given unfortunate news. During follow-up tests for Vanessa’s treatment the cancer was discovered having travelled to her brain.

    The cancer is widespread and numerous meaning it is not immediately operable – the best treatment is radiation therapy which can delay or reduce the rate of growth, but cannot destroy it, meaning that there is no cure.

    Suffice to say that Vanessa, her family, and ourselves are completely devastated and surprised by the suddenness of this news and it’s unimaginable outcome, especially given all the positivity following her treatment that had been undertaken so strenuously to prevent such an eventuality. In fact, Vanessa would once again like to personally thank everyone from the bottom of her heart for your amazing contributions, without which she could never have accessed the preventative drug Kadcyla. By being able to start the Kadcyla early she’s been able to have the gift of more time with her family to this point.

    We are now committed to whatever is needed in order to extend Vanessa’s life for as long as possible and we are actively pursuing all options. At the least, Vanessa’s current treatment has kept the cancer from spreading anywhere else in her body. We are also being advised of new treatments from overseas that could possibly help prolong or even save her life which we will be following up, despite excessive costs involved.

    With all this in mind, we are now hoping to continue to keep this page open in anticipation of at least achieving our original funding goal. Any further donations towards this final tally will all gratefully contribute towards the quality and longevity of Vanessa’s life and her ability to take advantage of any time remaining to be with us and her young family for as long as humanly possible.

    We are beyond sorry to have to share this news with all of you. We want to thank you all again for all your kindness and love and support, and wish you all wellness and happiness.

    Take care, lots of love Vanessa, Matt, Narelle, Demelza, and all our families xxxx

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  • Vanessa Wants to Thank All of You

      28 February 2021

    Hi everyone, we just wanted to let you know we have extended Vanessa's page for a little longer as she still has people reaching out to her wanting to support her, which is so amazing! She also wants to be able to thank you all but needs a little more time to get that together. Vanessa is doing well and carrying on her journey through the treatment. We hope this message finds you all well, healthy and happy. Thank you again for all your love and support xxx

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  • Friends Kind Requests

      15 February 2021

    Hi there lovely people, we just wanted to let you know we have been approached by several friends asking us to extend Vanessa's fundraising page in order to give them time to make the donation they had wanted to make. So we have moved the closing date to the end of February should you want to share this with any of your networks. Thank you so much for all your kindness and support, and your messages of strength and love on this challenging journey! Take care, stay safe and well, lots of love from all of us xxx

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  • With our deepest gratitude

      5 February 2021

    Dear incredibly kind people,

    The time-frame for our fundraising page is drawing to a close and we wanted to update you all one last time before it ends with Vanessa’s progress.

    Vanessa is about to receive the 4th of 14 treatments of Kadcyla thanks to the generosity of every single one of you who has supported her. This give-a-little page has been incredible in allowing Vanessa to start these unfunded medical treatments as early as possible, and for as long as possible. While we haven't been able to reach the final target for the full treatment cycle yet, we are confident that the remaining amount required can be sourced through a combination of early release superannuation funds as well as private means in order to try and make up the difference. Suffice to say however, we never, ever could have done this with-out you all, and Give-a-little.

    While Vanessa is still having some pretty tough days she is determined to come through this, and come through it cancer-free. In the meantime, we are all forever grateful to all of you for making this treatment a possibility for our sister, wife, mother. You have given us the hope that she will be able to make it through this illness and live to raise her children with Matt. When we try to find words to thank you all so much for such an enormous act of love and kindness, I'm afraid we come up short, and tearful(!) as it is just so overwhelming. We hope in some small way that you can truly understand our gratitude and thanks.

    We hope that life is good to all of you and your own families, and that you all have the support and love you need as you travel on your own journeys this year and beyond. Stay safe and well out there you beautiful human beings and thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.

    Lots of love and good health from Vanessa, Matt, Narelle, Demelza, and all our families xxxx

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  • Happy New Year!

      5 January 2021
    Main image

    Dear Friends and amazing Donors,

    We hope you had a lovely, Merry Christmas with your friends and families. This photo is Vanessa’s favourite photo from Christmas. It’s our families celebrating together - which doesn’t get to happen that often. Basically we had the best christmas ever, because as Nessa said, she really didn’t know if she would make it to Christmas this year, or if she did what shape she would be in. Yet here she is! And we are so grateful, because we have no doubt it is due in huge part to all of you, and your kindness and generosity and support. Vanessa is currently undergoing treatment with the new drug Kadcyla and hoping to continue with as many cycles as possible based on the level of funding available.

    So please know our heartfelt thanks for everything you have done already, and if you can please possibly share this page out to your contacts to help us keep reaching for our goal to fund Vanessa’s treatment that would be amazing. We hope that this New Year brings you and your families only happy adventures, joy, and good health!

    Lots of Love and best wishes from Vanessa, Matt, Narelle, Demelza, and all our families xxxx

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  • An Anxious Two Weeks

      2 December 2020

    Hi everyone,

    We're sorry to have been quiet for the last two weeks. It's been a scary, anxious time waiting for results after some lumps were discovered in Vanessa’s lymph nodes in her neck raising fears of further cancer spread. She has since had an ultrasound and biopsy and we are incredibly relieved to share that it is not cancer. It feels a bit like a christmas miracle.

    We also wanted to let you know that thanks to your incredible kindness we are now half-way to funding the full course of the medical drug Kadcyla. You incredible people have given us the optimism and confidence to get started on treatment no matter how far it gets, and Vanessa has opted to start this week using money released from her small superannuation fund.

    While this is good news, we remain grateful for any support or opportunities to share this page across your contacts so that we can reach our goal to help cover the entire treatment and ensure Vanessa has the very best opportunity to beat this. Otherwise, thank you again for all your love and support and for making this hopefully life-saving treatment possible.

    Take care, stay safe, and wishing you all the very best xxxx

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  • Thank you for your huge gift of hope!

      16 November 2020

    Dear, incredible Donors,

    We just wanted to write a little update to you all. Over the last 7 days since we started this page, Vanessa and Matt and our family has been overwhelmed on a daily basis by the incredible generosity, love and support from all of you. None of us have the words to express to you how moved and humbled we all feel seeing such incredible support flood in from all over the world. From family and friends, and friends of family and friends. And from beautiful strangers. You people are amazing, we can never thank you properly or enough. You have given us hope and are creating the possibility that Vanessa can actually have this treatment right in front of our eyes.

    We hope that all is well in your worlds. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

    Vanessa, Matt, Narelle, Demelza, and all our family xxxx

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