Melissa's Breast Cancer Journey
We are reaching out for much needed financial help to pay for a chemotherapy drug for Melissa that is not government funded.
Taranaki
Tēnā koutou e te iwi
Melissa is a 33-year-old partner and mum of 6, who was recently diagnosed with invasive stage 2 breast cancer. Melissa requires immediate chemotherapy treatment, followed by a mastectomy and ongoing radiation.
Due to the poor NZ health system, it took 8 months to get a diagnosis and in this time the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.
To significantly increase the success rate of her chemotherapy, Melissa needs an additional drug that is not government funded. The drug is called Pertuzumab (Perjeta) which must be administered in a private hospital and costs $16,000 for the drug, oncologist and private hospital fees.
We are reaching out for much needed financial help to pay for this drug.
Every contribution, no matter the size, can help Melissa and her whānau. Please donate today and share Melissa's story with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini" - Success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many.
Aby Adams' involvement (page creator)
This page was created on behalf of Melissa's extended whānau.
Use of funds
We are reaching out for much needed financial help to pay for a chemotherapy drug (Pertuzumab (Perjeta)) for Melissa that is not government funded.
Latest update
Update #4 12 September 2023
Kia ora e te whaanau
It's been a while since my last official update, and time has certainly flown since entering this crazy cancer journey.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of my fundraising angels, and your very generous donations, I received the first dose of Pertuzumab (Perjeta), the immunotherapy drug at a private hospital in Palmerston North today.
Pertuzumab will hopefully give me a 10% greater chance of beating this awful disease, and I cannot thank you enough for ensuring I have this drug available to me.
Today’s dose was one of three that will be fully funded by the money you have all raised over the last few months. I will return to New Plymouth tomorrow for my next chemotherapy treatment on Thursday.
Thank you again for making a difference through your compassion and generosity. Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa!
Before I sign off, I’d like to share a whakataukī that resonates with me at the moment.
Kia mate ururoa, kei mate wheke - Fight like a shark, don’t give in like an octopus.
This whakatauki encourages us to not give up. When fishing, a shark will fight the whole time it is on the line. In comparison, an octopus will surrender once it’s been hooked. No matter how hard things get, let us fight like a shark.
Arohatinonui Melissa xx
PS the attached photo was taken when we took a little detour to Hawera on our road trip to Palmerston North this morning 😊
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