Kerry's Cancer Treatment Fund
The best treatment option for Kerry is one that is not available or funded in New Zealand, and she must travel to Australia for treatment.
Auckland
Who is Kerry Jellick? She is a beloved, daughter, sister, mother, stepmother, and grandmother. She's a loyal friend to so many people. She's in her early fifties, and is young to have been diagnosed with this cancer. Kerry has a cancer called a neuroendocrine tumour (NET), that started in her pancreas and has spread to other areas of her body. Unfortunately, first line chemotherapy has failed, and the best treatment option to make her comfortable and extend her time with us is a treatment called PRRT, which is not available in New Zealand, and it isn't funded by the New Zealand Health Care system. The only place that offers this treatment is the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia. And unfortunately, it comes with a big price tag. Each cycle of therapy requires travel for herself and a carer, costs approximately $15,000 NZD and is a 4-day trip. Kerry has had four cycles of treatment so far. Family loans have funded the treatments so far, but we need to fundraise for her follow up and future treatment and support.
Rayone Wilson's involvement (page creator)
Why am I involved? Because Kerry is not just my sister-in-law, she's my friend. She's part of my family. She's the strongest woman I've ever had the privilege of knowing, and she's always been the first to help a friend or lend a hand to those in need. I volunteered to help because I know that there are compassionate, caring people in this world who want to help others, who want to extend a helping hand. Please, help us help Kerry!
Use of funds
The goal is to assist Kerry with treatment-associated costs for her consultation and treatment appointments (airfare, accommodation, meals, and transportation), and a second cycle of treatment, if required. If these funds cannot be used by Kerry, or donations are in excess of the funds required, they will be donated to the Unicorn Foundation (www.unicornfoundation.org.nz), to assist people with NETs obtain treatment and lobbying the New Zealand government to bring this treatment to New Zealand.
Latest update
Waiting on Peter Mac for re-treatment decision 15 April 2019
Hi Givealittle Community. An update: Kerry's tumours are back and progressing. She's just had a couple of PET scans and we are waiting on the decision of the Peter Mac multidisciplinary committee meeting (MDM) whether another round of PRRT treatment is feasible. Kerry's cancer has progressed and she's had to start chemotherapy to try to start knocking it back. We are anticipating that she'll either go back for treatment in the very near future, or that she'll need to be on chemo for a couple of months and then be re-assessed with PET scans and the MDM at Peter Mac. In NZ, you are generally only allowed funded PET scans once a year, so if it's the latter, we'll need to fund those PET scans. There should be more information for you in about two weeks, but in the meantime, thanks for your care and concern, Kerry and her family are very grateful for the support and encouragement we've received from our generous donors to date.
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