Help Jacqueline beat the Big C

Last year Jacks was diagnosed with ovarian cancer - a rare, aggressive type called clear cell carcinoma.

She underwent almost six months of chemo and was given the all clear in late November. Six weeks after finishing chemo she discovered a lump in her abdomen, which devastatingly was found to be a tumour - secondary cancer in the abdominal wall. The tumour grew to 15cm round. After completing radiation therapy the tumour reduced a couple of cm, not nearly enough however for surgery to be considered as an option. It has created a tennis ball sized open wound on her stomach. A constant visual reminder of what’s going on inside her. With more than a few hiccups along the way, Jacks has persevered with incredible strength and determination.

However, the diagnosis is that without treatment Jacks may have just months left here with us.

Prior to diagnosis Jacks was a very fit and healthy 43 year old. A total gym bunny and keen outdoors person who had just bought her first home with her amazing partner for life Scott. They made many plans for the future, one of them being a trip to Europe in which our whole family hopes to meet in Croatia in August 2017. Croatia is special to us all, as it is where our father is from. If it can go ahead, it will be the first time we are all together there since 1983. Jacqueline is determined to make this happen and I know that our family over there will be forever grateful to see her in person. We want to make memories.

Jacqueline has remained so brave throughout this journey that none of us would wish to see our loved ones ever have to go through. However, she is still always trying to put others needs before her own. Her heart of gold is still in tact.

After some research, we found a non-funded drug called Avastin that may be effective in halting the growth of the tumour and give her a longer life expectancy. Of course being non-funded means it comes at a high cost - up to $38,000 for the treatment. Jacks doesn’t have medical insurance to cover the costs of this. The drug is currently only administered in Palmerston North, which also means three-weekly travel from Wellington for treatment.

It is at tough times like these that you call upon the kindness and generosity of others. No amount is too little, as anything you are able to give to help ease the financial burden to get Jacks this treatment she so dearly needs is more than appreciated by us all.