Support for Stephanie in Sydney

Stephanie Daly is a retired primary school teacher, who worked as a Resource teacher of Learning and Behaviour for the final 18 years of her career.

In 1999, she had one eye removed due to melanoma. In 2011 she lost her home in the Christchurch earthquakes. She was finally getting financially stable again but in 2021 she was diagnosed with liver metastases from the melanoma. She was told no treatment options were available and given a life expectancy of 12-18 months.

She did however continue to work as a relief teacher, as she remained well.

In Feb 2022 she became aware of a very new treatment called tebentafusp, which is not available in NZ. She was referred by her Christchurch oncologist to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney and she has been having weekly treatments since August 2022. The medication is being provided by the drug company for free.

Recent scans reveal the drug has been effective, causing shrinking and necrosis of the liver metastases, but she will require radiotherapy to some lesions.

Stephanie has had to pay for her accommodation (albeit subsidised by St Vincent’s), medical tests, scans, radiotherapy and transport costs etc. – so far $60,000 for the last six months. She has recently received some help from her health insurers – but not enough to pay for her treatment.

Stephanie needs financial support and would be grateful for any help you can offer.

Any excess money gained would be donated to … Foundation for the Blind NZ and Child Cancer NZ.