Sunshine Sonya’s Cancer Smash!

Hi, I’m Sonya. I am the mother of two beautiful boys (15 months and 7 years). My amazing family and friends are ‘holding the fort’ for me in Hastings as I smash this stage III cervical cancer in Wellington for at least 5 or 6 more weeks (so far it’s been 3 weeks). There is potential for surgery afterwards as well, but each step at a time ❤️

I found out I have cancer in June 2019. Thankfully to the fast action of my GP at Totara Health, HB DHB and Welly DHB, I’m currently getting chemotherapy 1 day a week and radiology treatment 5 days a week. So far, so good!

This has been such a beautiful yet scary journey for a lil 35 yo me. I’m so thankful for support that has been generously given to me and my family. It means so very much, and I patiently await the day I can return the favour to those in need ❤️

My goal is to smash this cancer out before I turn 36 (which is November 6th). The doctors aren’t too convinced and are under the belief that I may need surgery after this treatment to get rid of a third mass they found later after my initial diagnosis. I love my Drs so much, but I’m praying to see the look of shock and delight when I get the all-clear.

My intention is to have a birthday party when I get back with my Hastings support crew (and kidnap my Welly support crew!). A high tea at my beautiful friends restaurant, with all my fellow wahine toa around me ❤️ Part of this give a little is for this party (I’m just being completely honest!)

The next part of my goal is to get my whanau to Nelson for Christmas. We have never been on a family trip over the straight (I’ve never actually been over the cook straight in my life!) so we can go meet the newest addition to our whanau, Arabella. I am craving a holiday with our whanau, my soul needs it. However, not being able to work has gobbled up any koha, savings and loose change we have had floating about. I want nothing more than to save towards a Christmas in Nelson, but really can’t afford to.

My goal is to raise $400 for high tea, $2000 for Christmas in Nelson, and any money on top of this I will donate to the Cancer Society NZ. They have supported me and helped me SO much through this journey so far, and I whole heartedly believe in the organisation and its ethos. I don’t usually like getting involved with charities as there are so many dodgy ones out there, but being on the recieving end of the Cancer Societies incredible services, I back these guys 200%

I just did an interview with the HBDHB today to help promote screening awareness and to encourage women to get their smears done and listen to their bodies. Even then, it’s not just women.... men have checks they need to get too. We need to drop the taboo of cervical smears, prostate checks etc. Yeah, they’re not nice, but if you want to be SUPER cautious, a few minutes each year can keep you away from all of this treatment to try remedy a situation. I think it’s up to us as partners, parents, children and friends to encourage our nearest and dearest to get checked. Get checked because you’re loved. Get checked so you get more time. Burying our heads in the sand (as I did for 5 years avoiding my smear test) isn’t the way.

Love and light to anyone reading this. You are loved. You are special. You are worth the time. Listen to your body, take time to be with yourself. We understand ourselves so much better when we just breathe through the storms and control what we can..... and the only thing you can control is YOU and YOUR calm. When we do that, the storm will pass ❤️

I appreciate any koha you can give ❤️ I’m not usually one to ask, but you never know unless you do.