Help Freda and her children through this journey

ALEXANDRA aka Alex (when mad at me) aka Alicky (when talking about me) aka Big Girl: Kia Ora, I'm Alexandra, Freda's oldest daughter. I have always been the party animal of the family until recent changes in my life have slowed that down. I have always been very close with my mum, we even share the same birthday. I have always believed my mum to be super-mum raising all of us kids and some cousins and some of my friends on her own. I'm sure every one of my friends has a story about how my mum took them in once or some maybe twice. Always had a home cooked meal on the table every night when I would go to the fridge and see nothing. Always supported my every life decision even when unsure, trusting in me knowing I would do the right thing.

Two years ago myself and my little dog packed up our life and moved back to NZ to take care of my 76 year old grandad. Since caring for my grandad in Northland I have learnt all I've needed to about dialysis and kidney failure. Meanwhile I have continuously travelled to Auckland to work part time when I was available. Since hearing the news about mum in early December I have once again packed my life into a little bag and moved back to Australia to be with my mum. Mum had no idea I was even coming and once she saw me she bursted into tears.

To see my darling mother in this condition is extremely heart breaking. I can not believe in November we all went out for our brothers 18th birthday and mum came too and we stayed out partying until early hours of the morning. To know you only have a certain amount of time left. I can not even imagine what she is going through. Even I know she has so much more life to live and many more grand children to meet. All her independence has been taken from her. Driving, working, caring for herself and simple things like opening a water bottle. And still now she's worried about her bills, what we're all going to have for dinner, not wanting to be a burden on others and housework. I'm continuously telling her she needs to forget about everything else and concentrate on herself. My dream is to get her back to other family Fiji one last time.

Today is Monday 11 January 2016 I am currently with mum at her first chemotherapy treatment. She is in good spirits but still very tired. The last few days have been very stressful for her with lots on her mind and she hasn't slept very well. She has finally getting some help and sleep.

I had no idea what I was walking into when I jumped on that plane but I just knew I had to go. Just that first glimpse when I saw my mum I knew she needed my help. However sometimes somethings are beyond ones help and you have to ask for an extended hand. So I ask please for your kindness in helping my family in our time of need. Thank you so much in advance for your aroma, support and care. Love Big Girl xx

P.S: Yes, I have quit smoking. I had my last cigarette at Auckland Airport last Thursday

FALLON aka Falease aka Ducky: Hi, I'm Fallon. I'm Freda's second eldest. I moved to Australia away from my mum in 2011 to continue my life with my little family. Whilst living away from my mum, brothers and sisters I got to learn how important they all are and how I need to cherish them while and when I can. At the time I just had one son, Warren (Freda's first grandson and grandchild) it was challenging parenting a child without mums in-person support, she was always a phone call away but every time I called she'd say "come home" or "mama wishes she was there" but it mustn't have been that hard as I then had 2 more kids (Jayda and Diamond). Mum had come to Australia numerous times to visit us and every time she'd come saying goodbye was always the hardest, I was longing for the day she didn't have to say it. Little did I know, that time would come in October 2014 when she finally made the move to change her life and continue in Australia. My dream had come true! She came and went straight into working so we didn't see her as often as we'd like to but she wasn't far from us. As I had my two brothers and was living with my partner, Patrick and his parents at their house it started to get overcrowded and it was time for us to move into our own house. In May 2015 we moved 2 minutes from the old house. My brothers and kids got to have their own rooms and space. Mum would visit often as she lived away from us. An incident happened in August which forced mum to move in with us. Because her job was in the CBD and she had no car, train was the only and best option for her to get to and from work. I would have to take her to the nearest train station at 5:30am come home get my kids ready for school then start my day. In the evening at 6:30pm I'd then have to drop everything (dinner, bath, bed for my kids) and pick her up. It soon became a bit of trouble so she decided she would get a loan to buy herself a car. I'd wake up and she was gone, we'd be getting ready for bed and she'd just be coming home. She was such a hard working, caring lady. She'd often tell me how she'd helped somebody out that day. If it were giving them specials on the alterations at work or helping the homeless people. She has such a big heart! In September my little family and brothers went on a Christian camp leaving mum home alone. She was happy though, she had a nice clean, tidy and quiet house. Whilst on camp she called me saying she was sick but still continued to work. When I returned home after the camp I told her to go see a doctor but because she was healing without any medicine she left it until December came where I forced her to go see a doctor as this cough she had wasn't going. When she went the doctor gave her antibiotics and said come back in a week if it hasn't gone. Sure enough a week had gone by and no change, so off she went back to the doctor. He sent her off for a chest X-ray. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Me and Miller were in Trade Secret spending money, she came in after seeing the doctor for her results and said to me "they've found something on my chest" I didn't want to hear anymore. My face blank, I wanted to cry because those words only meant one thing. The doctor then wanted a CT scan. I had to live a couple more days not knowing much. We went for the CT scan and straight to the doctors for the results, from that point on I made sure I was there for mums every appointment. The doctor then confirmed it was Lung Cancer. I was shattered! She was shattered! But I had to try and be her strong leg. The doctor sent her referral off the the hospital. They didn't get back to us for a long time in which I called them just before Christmas, very angry. They looked over mums results and called her for an appointment the next day. I knew for them to rush her in this was quite serious. Not knowing the full extent of it, I took mum to her appointment where the doctor told us her lung cancer was at least 18 months old. Again, we were shattered! To know she came to Australia with this problem and she had no idea at all. This doctor said it is definitely from smoking I called my sisters who were big smokers and told them they must stop as this is too serious now. Everything was happening way too fast. She had a bronchoscopy two days before Christmas. It made her pain worse. We were told our next appointment wouldn't be until the 12th of January but within this time for the dreaded phone call that her appointment needs to be brought forward because her time is slowly running out and something needs to be done. So the next appointment was on the 8th of January, a day after my sister, Alex arrived. We got to speak to the oncologist and finally get some answers to our dreaded questions. Of course the main question we had all been waiting for, the life expectancy. 2-3 years with chemotherapy or 6-9 MONTHS without chemotherapy. How could this be true? Just over a month ago she was up laughing, running, being mum, joking around and having fun. I watched her go from so happy to slowly adding 20 years onto her age with big swollen feet. My mum brought myself and my 4 siblings up pretty much solo. She didn't give us everything but she sure tried. Seeing her in such pain breaks my heart, how can this disgusting habit we all once enjoyed be doing this to my mum? She's only 53, she's still got so much life in her, grandkids to see and dreams to fulfil. My kids were lucky enough to have met my mum but will only have little memory of her. At times we wouldn't see eye to eye but her being the stubborn lady she is would still put me back into place. After reading my story about my journey so far with my mum and her Lung Cancer I come with open arms and ask you please give generously to help support my family at this time of need. I believe in Karma, one day it will come back around until I thank you very much, every donation is welcome, greatly appreciated and valued. God Bless. Love Falease xxxx

GEMMA aka Bombie aka Baby Girl: Hi my name is Gemma and I'm the middle child of 5, the youngest baby girl as my mum would say. My older sisters would always tease me for the being the de-sensitive one and still till this day I am. Growing up it was just my mum and us kids which has made us all very close. After finding out about my mums illness I haven't really spoke about it to anyone, I don't know what to say. I never thought myself or my family would be in this situation and I find myself so terrified about what's to come. My mum is the strongest, most loving and caring person I know with such a big heart. Today is her first chemo treatment and I wish her all the best. Even though I don't say it as much as I should...I love you mum more than ever. To my sisters and brothers I love you also and together we will only be stronger.

MARCUS aka Marky Muck aka Big Son: TBC

MILLER aka Milty aka Big Strong Boy: Hello my name is Miller, I'm the youngest child in our family. I complete my final year at high school next year. To know that my mum has a time limit for her to live is very sad to see. My mum has brought me up by herself with just me and my brother also my three sisters. Could you imagine the money problems she's had to bring us up to the kids we are now. I've never ever thought of my mum getting cancer cause she was always laughing, even recently we had a good joke around wrapping Christmas presents it was good to see her have some laughs. I would just ask for all of your willingness to help us out with our mum to get her back on her feet thank you