Please help Gaye have more time

$21,662 of $135,000 goal

Given by 133 generous donors in 5 weeks

Gaye desperately needs the Herceptin drug. Gaye is not covered by Pharmac as she does not have Breast Cancer, give us more time with her.

Manawatu / Whanganui

+3 images

Our beloved Gaye, the life and soul of the party. The strongest and bravest woman I know and the family's GLUE. She needs our help to stay around as long as possible.

Please help us fund the Herceptin drug as she is not covered by Pharmac.

In 2016, Gaye had Endometrial Serous Carcinoma and every one believed that she was a ‘survivor’ however in June this year (4 years just about to the date of her operation) after a chest x-ray the cancer has metastasized and she has 3 small tumors on her left lung and it is also in her lymph nodes in her chest/neck area.

Gaye, who is a young 62 year old, was looking forward to an active retirement - is currently going through chemo and hopefully this treatment will shrink the tumors, but it won't cure her prognosis.

Gaye has tested positive for the HER 2 gene, if you have this gene - the drug Herceptin (which is used for breast cancer treatment, only breast cancer patients are fully funded by Pharmac) has been proven to help cancer sufferers of Endometrial Serous Carcinoma as it does for breast cancer.

Herceptin is known to inhibit the cancer cells from splitting and will give Gaye some extra time with her loved ones.

Herceptin is not funded for cancer patients with Endometrial Serous Carcinoma (only breast cancer patients), Gaye has funded her first treatment at $9,815 + has funded her second treatment at $7,819.

But the savings account is going to run out and Gaye needs this drug every 3 weeks at an ongoing cost of $7,819.

That's a ball park figure needed of around $135k (more or less - 12 months worth of treatment)

Herceptin will help Gaye have more time with her partner Nigel, 3 daughters (Renee, Hannah and Roxanne) all the grandies and extended family and friends. Help us keep this beautiful soul around to spend quality time with her loved ones. We are so grateful for all the support and love we have already received and we hope with this crowd funding - we can make Gaye's time on earth something all of us can remember and hold close to our hearts. xx

Group photo taken at the Marine Parade Viewing Platform in Napier, when Gaye just found out her diagnosis in June 2020.

Lobbying to Government: The family is lobbying to the Health Minister via a local MP to help all those with the positive HER 2 gene the access to Herceptin (fully funded) not just breast cancer patients. We want to make a difference to other people's lives not just our own.

Aroha Mai - Aroha Atu

"Love received, Love returned"

Maori Proverb

Roxy Tricklebank's involvement (page creator)

I am Gaye's youngest daughter and I am setting this page up on behalf of my mum, Nigel, my sisters and extended family and friends who want to support mum and give her more time. xxx love ya mumma xxxx

Use of funds

To fund the drug Herceptin and any related costs to give Gaye more time with her family and friends. We want our partner, mum, grandmother, sister and friend here as long as possible - we need this time.

Latest update

Herceptin funding update 2 November 2020

Gaye, Nigel, Renee, Hannah, Roxanne and families would like to thank you all for the love and generous gifting that you have given us. We are truly humbled by the beautiful kindness you have shown Gaye and we are so thankful to you all. The monies donated will cover the Herceptin treatment to date.

Gaye's oncologist has worked tirelessly for months advocating on her behalf for funding for the drug from Pharmac, this was subsequently declined.

The oncologist then went direct to Roche (the company that makes the drug) as rarely they have provided the drug on compassionate grounds for special cases. It was unknown how long this process would take and if it would be successful.

We received some wonderful news this week from the Oncologist - Roche has agreed to supply the drug to Gaye at no cost. The oncologist also got agreement from the DHB to administer it! Which is amazing as we were advised that the administration would need to done privately due to the drug not being funded by Pharmac.

We are totally over the moon about this amazing news as the stress of having to find the money every 3 weeks was taking its toll on Gaye and the family. Any monies left in balance Gaye would like to donate to a cancer charity (yet to be decided)

Once again we all wish to thank you for your love and support - you are truly beautiful people xx

Gaye and family.

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