Mother of 6 trying to fight Stage 4 cancer, a year after loosing her daughter to Kidney Failure

"Suddenly losing a daughter to a life long illness (kidney failure) was traumatic in itself, but to find out a year later, that you have Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer to then only 6 months to live…is devastating".

Matamaki is an awesome mother of 6 children (Maria-28, Elizabeth deceased twin-26, Susan younger twin-26, Felix-21, Juan-12 & Phoebe-6) and at age 45, can light up a room with her witty nature and always going out of her way for others.

Matamaki was diagnosed with advanced metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma with celiac lymph node and liver metastases. In other words, she has Pancreatic cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes and liver. Untreatable and Incurable.

Right now, she and the family are desperate to try anything after seven cycles of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy failed to minimise or slow the cancers development.

Three options were given by her Oncologist whilst knowing about her lifespan of less than 6 months;

1-Start second line PDXG chemotherapy (3 cycles completed but further progress in disease),

2-GEM- NAB Paclitaxel a private drug non-funded by the government of $57,102.13 (highly recommended by Oncologist that will prolong her lifespan)

3-Go day by day with no meds, no drugs and no treatment.

Chemotherapy made life worse for Matamaki as she had increased pain and pain frequency becoming daily, lost all her hair within a month and the usual nausea that comes with this type of treatment. Her and the family will continue to fight and not settle for the third option.

Matamaki will need atleast $57, 102.13 (quoted by Harbour Cancer Centre) for the second option in the private sector. A private chemotherapy drug that will prolong her life which contains 6 cycles based here in Auckland, New Zealand.

She doesn’t have medical insurance, nor does she come from a wealthy background so needs all the help she can get to start this private drug as soon as possible! A chance to watch her children grow a little longer, to see her daughter (the youngest twin) get married in 2020, to see her youngest son start college and more time for the family to spend with her. Matamaki is known for such strength

and will keep on fighting as she has so much life to still live for.

Matamaki and the family quotes “Life has no value and is priceless”

Please help to fight CANCER!

With huge appreciation for all support given, thank you for your kindness and love!