Michelle’s kicking cancer! Help her fight!

As some of you might know by now, on Friday my cousin Michelle (Shell to most) was given the very shocking news that her cold she had been fighting for three weeks was in fact Acute Meyloid Lukemia. From having a general blood test on Tuesday (thank you Fairfield Medical Clinic for ordering these) to abnormal results and a bone morrow biopsy Friday, to then being admitted to hospital that very afternoon. Without these tests Michelle might not have been with us in three weeks time, simple as that!

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid line of blood cells, characterized by the rapid growth of abnormal cells that build up in the bone marrow and blood and interfere with normal blood cells. Symptoms may include feeling tired, shortness of breath, easy bruising and bleeding, and increased risk of infection. As an acute leukemia, AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated. AML affected about one million people globally in 2015 and resulted in 147,000 deaths. AML is curable in about 35% of people under 60 years old. Read more at https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/adult-aml-treatment-pdq

Michelle has already had her first dose of chemotherapy and this hasn’t been a very nice experience as I’m sure a lot of you can appreciate. The hospital will be attacking this horrible cancer head on with many rounds of chemotherapy and of course this will take its toll on Michelle both emotionally and physically; high fevers to full body sweats to extreme shaking. During this time she will have an extended stay in hospital.

If you don’t know much about Michelle, Michelle is not only my beautiful cousin but also an amazing mother to two beautiful boys and three fur babies that will also be struggling with the news no child wants to hear, let alone seeing their mother in so much pain, both Nate and Hamish will need the support and love from us all.

Michelle’s wedding to her soul mate Mike is less than three months away, making this a very difficult time for them both, not only should they be counting down the days to their happy ever after but they should be enjoying the excitement of seeing all their hard work and plans come together for their big day. All we can take out of this at the moment is how thankful Michelle is for having Mike in her life holding her hand through this extremely horrible and painful time.

Michelle has also only just started her lifelong dream of being a business owner, and started "Painted Shells" her Nail Salon, less than three months ago, already with a strong and loyal customer base it has been so sad for her to tell her customers she cannot be there for them.

This is going to affect both Michelle and Mike financially during her time of healing and recovery and the last thing we all want is them worried about money, the boys and any other unexpected burdens that may arise. So if any of us can help in any way possible this will help as Mike takes some time to help Michelle and also keep things at home on track.

Cancer is a very horrible disease that keeps showing up in our family and this unfortunately has affected us all so badly again when it was all still so raw. Even through this time, Michelle is putting the health and wellbeing of others before herself as she has become part of a research programme to help find a cure.

Please send all your loving thoughts, prayers and healing vibes to Michelle as she need all we can give. We thank you all in advance.