The Gift of Precious Time against Stage 4 Breast Cancer
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A time for Healing 🙏
1 August 2025We have been quiet for some weeks as our focus has been on helping Laurens body to heal.
We have had to push pause on any targeted chemotherapy for now, as she deals with some acute health issues which are not uncommon when your body has a compromised immune system and taken so much toxicity on board over a long period of time.
While chemotherapy has the power to heal, it also causes so many side effects and lowers immunity, its a double edge sword to anyone needing it.
Lauren has had two hospital stays over the month of July and she has been working to heal from deficiencies, cardiac and respiratory conditions.
Her body has been through so much so as she starts to overcome her latest health challenges our focus is including nourishing holistic therapies, gentle days and lots of rest.
Please keep our beautiful girl in your prayers and healing thoughts as she gives herself the time she needs come back out on top before she can get back into further treatments.
As always, we thank those who have made continued donations to Laurens GAL, and supported her in many other ways, we are truly blessed to have such caring individuals out there who give so selflessly and generously. It means alot to Lauren and her family X
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Sending huge love to Lauren's caring loving family. I had the privilege of working with Lauren at House of Travel HNth . She was so kind and always ready to help (especially me !) She was full of joy and love and fun and we could all learn so much from her. I am devastated to hear the sad news and so sad I never got to see and hug her. I loved her. Beautiful brave funny gorgeous soul ❤️
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Long overdue update…A new treatment
25 June 2025Posted by: Michelle GrantA long overdue update. While going through the motions with what we had hoped to be our miracle treatment with sasituzumab, the 2nd scan had revealed this was not the case, after initial positive signs it was soon apparent that any gains made were lost.
Within 2 days of this setback our beautiful Lauren was back in the treatment chair and onto the next line of treatment, Enhertu, without any time to waste.
While this drug is now funded for some breast cancers, unfortunately it is not covered for Laurens specific her2 low breast cancer, the cost of this drug even more than Sasituzumab, which came at an eye watering cost.
Lauren has now passed the 2 year mark since her metastatic diagnosis. Its been a tough journey with more setbacks and disappointments than we care to think about but through it all she has continued to show strengh, grace and tenacity in the face of the most trying times.
The past couple of months have also been about fundraising to cover the enormous medical treatment costs, and we are so indebted to all the beautiful people who have taken it upon themselves to selflessly give their time and efforts to run so many events locally and further afield.
There is so much love out there, and kindness. To feel our community of friends and complete strangers who continuously wrap us in support and uplift us in so many ways.
We hold gratitude to you all who have generously continued to support Lauren’s Give a Little, we could not do this without you 🙏🩶
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Treatment Update
30 April 2025Posted by: Michelle GrantEarly indications show that targeted treatment, sasituzumab is working.
The tumour cell growth has halted so our hope further rounds will work to shrink the current metastisis
As Lauren is now in her 3rd round, more than ever the need to continue with fundraising efforts to get to our $80k goal so Lauren can have all 8 rounds of unfunded sasituzumab, after which time the drug company will take over the cost of treatment going forward.
Over more than 12 months of disappointment and heartache, three different chemotherapies and radiation, we were unable to achieve these results so its a win, a little win but so worth quietly being grateful to the universe 🙏 so as we continue this treatment and in conjunction with current holistic practises to achieve the best results possible.
We need the hopes and prayers of every supporter to get behind Lauren in her chance of life.
We also need the power of sharing Laurens Give a Little to spread the need far and wide to better the chances of raising these much needed funds. There is power in numbers so our big ask right now is to please share our crowdfunding page. The link is below.
Thank you, thank you! We really feel the love and support. It takes an army to achieve this, and we believe we can 🩷
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-gift-of-precious-time-against-stage-4-breast
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How do we thank you all!
13 April 2025Posted by: Michelle GrantIt was important to us that we thanked each and every person who has taken the time to donate to Lauren’s cause, and for the beautiful words of encouragement, support and love. If that alone could cure cancer then we would not be here!
We have seen messages of hope from those who have worked with Lauren in the past, whether that be from the NZDF, Air NZ, or other Hato Hone St John ambo’s from around the country, back to old school friends and from complete strangers showing gratitude for the work she does or the ones who are just so incredibly giving people, who cancer may have touched their lives or they are going through their own health struggles.
To know Lauren has an army of well wishes behind her gives us the strength to keep fighting.
Lauren is now in her “off” week of treatment, then will have a progress scan to see how things are going with two full rounds of Sasituzumab behind her.
Thats 25% of unfunded treatment behind her, and treatment we have been able to pay for thanks to so many wonderful and generous New Zealanders.
We feel incredibly blessed.
Lauren can now enter her 34th year with a little more hope of her biggest wish - Time.
Again, thank you all, you are amazing! X
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Happy Birthday Lauren
11 April 2025Posted by: Michelle GrantWow! What can we say but Thankyou Thank you Thank you!
Laurens story was published through the Herald and HB Today yesterday and the love, kindness and heartfelt messages that were received have just blown us all away, so to each and every one of you, we as a family are so humbled by the generosity shown.
This past week Lauren completed round two of her unfunded targeted therapy Sasituzumab and so far the side affects have been minimal, which is a great start. Having to travel 2 1/2 hours to treatment twice every 21 days is not so bad either. We are just grateful to have a chance with this treatment option.
Today our beautiful girl celebrated her 34th Birthday and a highlight for her had to be meeting comedian Dai Henwood, an amazing man going through his own battle against stage 4 cancer, at his latest Dai Hard conedy shows.
We have so many people to thank for all the donations made to Laurens Give a Little in the past couple of days, you are all amazing and we will acknowledge each gift towards Laurens $70k treatment. Without the kindness shown we could not do this!
Blessings to you all X
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A Heartfelt Thankyou
13 March 2025Posted by: Michelle GrantWe are now two weeks into running this Give a Little and fundraising to assist with costs for Laurens current 80k treatment, Sacituzumab.
This week Lauren started this targeted therapy in Palmerston North.
As this drug is not funded in NZ it is administered by a private specialist. It cannot be given in a public facility.
The side effects so far have been minimal which is a good start and we are hoping she will have good tolerance going forward and the results from treatment she needs.
We have had an astounding amount of support for Lauren by way of raffles and fund raising events underway, even from people we do not know, its been incredible.
The generosity and beautiful messages have been so heartening and give us the hope that we will achieve what seemed like an unachievable goal of $80,000 to raise.
To each and every one of you who have been a donor to this page, Lauren personally thanks you all, as do I, Laurens Mum.
We feel so humbled to have the support of such generous people, times are hard for so many but still you spare a few dollars to help another in need, whether you are a friend, family, friend of friend or family, a work colleague, or a complete stranger please know we are truly blessed that you have showed such kindness, so from our hearts, thank you 🩷
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