A devastating terminal diagnosis of stage four melanoma

In November 2009, Mario noticed a mole on his right arm and decided to get it checked. The results came back positive as melanoma and the mole was removed.

Not long after, further tests were run to check that they had successfully removed the melanoma, but results showed it was still there. In January 2010, they removed more tissue from around the same place.

He was then tested and it came back clear. He thought that was the last of it.

In December 2016, Mario discovered a lump under his arm pit while in the shower. He had a PET CT scan which showed a melanoma under his arm.

The lump was removed in January 2017, followed by a series of radiation treatments in the months that followed.

A follow up scan in May showed that everything was under control and there was no sign of the melanoma.

In October, they did another follow up scan to double check the melanoma was clear and the scan revealed it had spread right through to his lungs.

In January 2018, a CT scan showed the disease had progressed to the lymph nodes, lung and liver.

They started Mario on the immunotherapy drug Keytruda of which he completed four sessions, but this was stopped at the end of May after tests showed it had been ineffective and he continued to decline.

Mario a mechanic, became too sick to continue working. His illness made it very difficult for him to move around and the tumours in his lungs made it painful and difficult to breathe.

Final Diagnosis

Earlier this month, doctors met with Mario to tell him that there was nothing more they could do for him and gave him 1-3 months to live.

Shocked, he went home to tell his wife Kim the news. Mario said telling his daughters was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

As Mario was the main income earner for the family, Mario and Kim were forced to move their family out of their rented property because they didn’t have enough money to pay rent.

They are on the wait list for a housing New Zealand property and in the meantime are staying at a friend’s property that is temporarily vacant.

Kim and Mario are very proud types and not the type to ask for help. This is a very difficult time for them which is the reason why I have set this page up.

Please help them continue to be together while Mario spends his last days with his family. Any funds raised will go towards living costs, children’s needs and Mario's care.