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Stand in solidarity with 13 yr old Poppy as she fights aggressive cancer!

  • Poppy continues on the road to recovery

      28 December 2024
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    Merry Christmas to all you wonderful supporters of Poppy & Chantel! This is to give an update on how Poppy is doing. She continues on her maintenance medicine until end of 2025 - mostly from home and Waikato hospital now. Chantel has been hard at work, on the many nursing cares - a complex array of procedures and routines throughout day and night. Poppy has been so strong to endure these many treatments. Please continue to pray to Jesus, with us, that the last of any cancer cells will remain completely gone. Poppy is looking to return to school part-time in 2025. This will be a huge step as she gets back into normal routines after so long away. We are trusting that she will be warmly welcomed by friends, new and old, and that her energy will continue to increase, so that she tires less and less. Thank you, nga mihi nui, we are so grateful for you all walking, praying, thinking of and giving to this precious family over the last year and a half. You have been a valued part of their journey. God bless, Anna and Joe

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  • Spring update

      3 September 2024

    Hi all, wow - it has been 1 whole year since Poppy received her shock cancer diagnosis. It has been an eventful 12 months - and we are SO proud of how Poppy has endured, and kept on despite a myriad of treatments, scary complications and several close calls. She has come so far! We are so very grateful for each of you who has given, prayed and supported them with your lovely messages. Please keep these coming. A quick update -Poppy has been undergoing her maintenance chemo treatment - this scheduled to go right through until end of 2025. But recently some severe pain has cropped up in response to the chemo - which she must have monthly throughout this whole maintenance phase. Her pain relief is not ideal long-term, and so they are trying to figure this out. Her liver is 'not very happy.' A few things to please pray for - that the pain will diminish and be managed without heavy pain meds, that Poppy's liver can get the break and recovery it needs, and that Poppy will be able to continue with this effective, regular maintenance chemo. Thank you!

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  • 1 year on - maintenance!

      3 August 2024
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    We are so thrilled to say that Poppy this week has been moved into the maintenance phase of her treatment! This is a HUGE milestone! It comes with a collective and large sigh of relief for Poppy. She, her Mum and Grandparents will enjoy more normality in everyday life as Poppy shifts from the grueling and uncertain treatment regime to one that involves only a monthly trip to Starship, and weekly day visits to Waikato Hospital - otherwise she can rest and recover her strength at home and in her own space. This will allow them to get back some normal rhythms to life and to start to feel like a regular teenager once again! A big adjustment, but one that Poppy will take on with her usual courage and resilience. Thank you all for following her with such care and aroha, for your prayers and giving - we are so grateful that you have been with them on this unwanted and harrowing journey. We give thanks to God for bringing her this far, and onwards. Keep up the prayers for her health to be fully restored and this all behind her in due course. Thank you, thank you, nga mihi nui.

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  • Pushing through Winter

      8 July 2024
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    Hi all, an update on Poppy's progress. Her potassium levels have come up - it's great to see them stabilising! Her platelets however have dropped again and are not at a level for her to resume chemo yet. In honesty, Poppy and Chantel were quite relieved to have a break from the regime and enjoy their own beds after such long, gruelling stints in hospital as her chest infection was treated. Let's pray for Poppy's platelets to now come up and be maintained so they can press on with her next chemo round. Thanks so much for standing with this wee family -for your generous gifts, aroha and prayers. We appreciate you! We are believing for Poppy's full restoration of health and for the cancer cells to be completely gone - those of you who pray to Jesus, please keep up your prayers! Anna and Joe

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  • Poppy back on treatment schedule!

      15 June 2024

    Hi all, a quick update - Poppy's blood levels got to an acceptable level so she can go back on chemo, which is great!! We are so encouraged at this good development, however it has been very scary for Chantel (Poppy's mum) as it is the very same medication that Poppy had such a dreadful reaction of paralysis last time. This time around the medical team are watching her vigilantly, and giving her another medicine to help her body quickly clear the chemo drug after each treatment, so that it doesn't build up to toxic levels again in Poppy's body. This seems to be working, but has created a new complication of messing with her potassium levels, which can have an affect on her heart and rhythms. Please pray the medical team finds the right balance of all these things and Poppy can continue to proceed through the treatment schedule, allowing no return of any cancerous growth. Thank you all for being such a supportive, committed team to these 2 wonderful people. God bless!

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  • Poppy - update on chest infection and treatment

      2 June 2024

    Hi all, just a quick update as you remember, pray and think of Poppy and her Mum Chantel. They have been going to the hospital daily for the medicine needed to treat her chest infection. It is usually for 2-3 hours at a time but can be longer if a blood transfusion is needed. They have returned to Starship recently because her blood counts are not yet up to where they need to be. A bone marrow biopsy has showed initial results that look ok which we are very grateful for - ie, no return of cancer. But please let's be praying her bloods will recover quickly to get back on track with her chemo very soon, and with the goal of moving into the maintenance phase of her treatment. Also, we ask God to strengthen her little body that is very tired from all it has been through. Thanks for your aroha, prayers and giving!

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  • Chest infection

      1 May 2024

    Thank you each deeply for your aroha, prayers and generosity. Chantel is so encouraged by this, especially for your prayers. A few days ago Poppy was transferred to Starship because of a diagnosed chest infection that has taken hold while her immunity is low. The medical team are working on identifying the bug through a scan and biopsy so that they can target it with the right medicine to treat effectively - please pray this can happen quickly and be eliminated. In that way she can get back on track with her chemo treatment which is currently on pause while this extra hurdle is dealt with. That's all - more update soon. Thank you all for being such a marvellous team around Poppy and Chantel. We are so thankful!

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  • Poppy needs our prayers

      28 April 2024

    Thanks all for your thoughts, generous gifts and prayers for Poppy. Unfortunately, she had to spend her whole birthday in hospital due to an unusual bug that they were treating with 3 different antibiotics because her own immunity is so low from the chemo. Then yesterday we have heard from Chantel that Poppy is a lot sicker than they thought. This is a real blow for us to hear this, and we are together all standing with them as they have asked for prayer and are waiting to find out more. We ask you to pray with us, if you are believers in Jesus - for a marvellous miracle of healing. We wait and pray and look with expectation. We will keep you posted how she is going.

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  • Poppy - Anzac Day!

      23 April 2024
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    Hi all, Poppy's latest - while the chemo is rugged, they are needing to keep on schedule with it for it to continue doing its job. This unfortunately has been causing Poppy's blood count to plummet, leaving her vulnerable to infection and physically tired. There have been many bags of blood transfused - thank you to you blood donors out there! Poppy and her Mum are back in hospital for some time to stay clear of infection and to be closely monitored with the harsh impact of the treatment. While Poppy is showing such courage, she has been in isolation and rather bored! We are grateful for a therapist who comes daily with creative, inspired art and other activities that Poppy (and other kids) can do while in hospital. This is a lonely, tough journey for this special Mum and daughter unit, and they are so grateful for all of you cheering them on and supporting them how you can. Thank you! Please continue to pray for her blood levels to hold, and for the chemo to stay on schedule. And please give a little as you have ability to help with their ongoing costs while Mum is not working. Remember them esp on Anzac Day as Poppy has long been looking forward to this, her birthday - we hope and pray she can be out of hospital and in a nice setting for some of that day. We will keep you posted!

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  • Another hurdle in the journey

      11 April 2024

    In March, as Poppy was telling her Mum a story, something was just not right - her words were coming out wrong. Chantel assumed tiredness but unfortunately, 1/2 hour later it happened again.

    'Come straight up to the hospital!'

    Another episode in the lifts-this time her arms had no movement & she couldn't speak at all. 5mins later back to normal! After several more episodes, she was admitted.

    As we can imagine Chantel was getting super worried! CT scan showed nothing. It felt like a replay of the toxic reaction to chemo last year. An MRI soon confirmed that the changes present during the toxic reaction were back. After much discussion, it was decided that 1 of Poppy's meds was the culprit. Blood tests showed the levels of med were 2x the norm. Poppy had 8 more episodes over the next 2 days but wonderfully, they became less severe as the med levels dropped. Chantel was so thankful her daughter could speak properly again!

    Having been discharged, both of them are very relieved & exhausted from the toll of this latest drama.

    Poppy can no longer take this med at home & has swapped to one that can only be given in hospital. 4x week visits up there again. Poppy gets v tired of the hospital. It can be so hard for her to agree to go up there.

    This latest setback is so hard on Poppy but we're deeply grateful her reaction was nowhere near as bad as last time.

    Please keep them in prayer, continue your $ support to this wee family that is fighting so hard. We are grateful for you!

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  • From Chantel (Poppy's Mum) - keep praying and supporting them please!

      13 March 2024
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    Hi all thank you from my heart to each of you who has followed us on this extremely tough journey. I've been deeply touched, humbled & grateful for your prayers, msgs & support.

    Sorry for this while to thank you. I've buried the trauma & grief down so far so I can function daily for Poppy. When I take a moment to think about what we've been through, I start to fall apart. I'm told I am a strong person & I'm doing well, but when I relive nearly losing Poppy twice & the hard journey, it makes me break down!

    Reading your beautiful words & the love/support blows me away! The support from family & friends, from people we know & those we don't, brings tears to my eyes, restores my faith. I cannot express how much.

    So thankful-Poppy is in remission! Yet we still have 2 yrs' treatment. We're now in an intense cycle. Poppy has chemo at Waikato 2x wk (up to 6 hrs/day!), many meds at home (up to 5/day) & 3 visits to Starship for Lumbar Punctures, & chemo.

    Late April, enters 'Maintenance phase,' longest & final cycle. Supposed to be a bit easier & Poppy can finally start back at school (1-2 hrs as she is still so tired & regaining strength after awful chemo reaction), visiting friends & doing normal 13-year-old girl things.

    Poppy’s 14th birthday is 25th April - focused on that! It makes Poppy smile to have this to plan toward after having her whole world turned upside down 6 mths ago.

    Once again, thanks so very much. Knowing of so many special people in the world really brings joy to me!

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  • Poppy at Christmas time!

      29 December 2023
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    Meri Kirihimete one and all!

    We are delighted to share an update on our loved friend Poppy on Christmas Day, feeling well for the whole day thankfully! - and able to really enjoy celebrations with her dear Mum Chantel, and wider family. Her bloods have come up enough so she can receive chemo again weekly for the next 6 weeks at Waikato, and a 3 weekly lumbar puncture up at Starship to monitor her health. She was very sick after the last chemo and so this has her feeling very worried how she will go this time - so please remember and pray for her. Please continue to give generously towards this little family, with Mum full-time caring for Poppy, and not able to work. They are so grateful for your care and love, as are we! Thank you for staying on this journey with them. We are believing for a wonderful outcome in time.

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  • Poppy this week

      10 December 2023

    Kia ora, by way of update, Poppy has been transferred down to Hamilton where she will continue her chemo treatment down here due to lack of beds in Auckland. Her bloods are very low despite a couple of transfusions recently, and as you can imagine, her energy is greatly depleted with that - she needs to sit and lie down for most of the time, without energy to do much of anything else. This is hard on her emotionally, the boredom and isolation get to her naturally. Once her bloods come up to a healthy level, they are having to face the same chemo that she reacted to so badly, but this time it will be given in a different way and at a lower dose. She is still recovering from the toxic reaction effects and regaining her movement slowly, so we can all imagine how scary that must be to face this same medicine. It is needed so that they can hit the cancer effectively. Please pray with us that it will go ahead, and that her body will be protected and with no complications of any hint of toxic reaction this time. As you can imagine, this will be on her Mum's mind -ask for God's peace and hope over them both and for the cancer markers to continue to decline. Thank you each for your wonderful support and aroha and prayer.

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  • Poppy's cancer is in remission!!!!!

      10 November 2023

    We are so thrilled to announce today's news that Poppy's cancer is in remission!! Wow, just fantastic! Thank you all - the doctor hurried straight to tell them this exciting outcome as soon as the results came in today from her recent bone marrow biopsy.

    In regard to healing from the toxic reaction - she has progressed to sitting in a wheelchair, and she can stand for a short period. Movement in her hands and arms is coming along. She has bounced back from this bump in the road remarkably quickly. Thank you for your prayers, your gifts and your care.

    It means so much to Poppy, Chantel and us!

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  • Toxic reaction to medications

      2 November 2023

    Hi all, thanks again so much to each one of you for your generous gifts, and also to Poppy's schools that have rallied and donated through community fundraisers in support of her. We are so grateful for you all!

    Poppy continues to have intensive chemo treatment as she battles the leukemia. Unfortunately last week she suffered a highly unusual toxic response to one of the chemo drugs and lost the use of all her limbs, one by one, and also her voice! As you can imagine, it was terrifying for Poppy and her Mum, who didn't know what was going on, and nor did the medical team for some time! After a transfer back to Auckland, eventually tests brought clarity for everyone what was happening.

    We are so thankful that she has been recovering her voice (now fully) - phew, and it was the most beautiful sound for Chantel to hear her girl speak again. Her legs are gaining a little bit of movement. Her arms have yet to see recovery - and her sleep is very broken due to great discomfort for her.

    Keep your prayers, aroha and support coming - thank you for standing with this sweet, beautiful little family.

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  • Poppy this week

      20 October 2023
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    Pic - one of Poppy's many blood transfusions.

    Hi all, again a huge thank you to each and every one of you for so generously giving to Poppy and Chantel, as they continue to work through the daily challenges of this disease. Poppy has been spiking temperatures in recent days so has unfortunately had to be readmitted to emergency where she and her Mum will stay while she is on IV antibiotics to fight any infection going on. The cancer is not yet responding to the chemo - ie, it is not yet in remission. This is discouraging as many others on this treatment are in remission by this point. Those of you who pray to the Lord God, please persist in your prayers! The hospital is undergoing renovations, so Poppy and Chantel are in a room with no windows - a hard thing when they are spending all their time in 1 small hospital room, with no view to the outside world or to sunshine. Please remember them - we look forward to giving more and happier news soon. They are SOOOO heartened and touched at your care and aroha, to know there are so many in their corner with them. Thank you again to each one of you.

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  • Poppy's treatment update

      10 October 2023

    Hi all, a truly heartfelt thank you to each one of you for your generous support of Poppy and Chantel, as they continue to journey through this marathon treatment, with all the ups and downs, and uncertainties. It has been intense. Poppy must have a lumbar puncture each week to check if leukaemia has entered her spinal fluid - we pray not! She also has had a recent blood transfusion due to severe tiredness, and low blood count. Poppy is having chemo given in various ways - targeted in 1 spot, IV, orally and also under her skin - many needles... She is being so very brave as is her Mum Chantel, as they go up to the hospital daily at the moment for hours and hours on end. Thank you for your support, prayers, thoughts and love - keep it coming please!! They are so grateful for you all, and are very humbled by your care and interest.

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