Hi everyone,
Just a quick short update as at 19th October 2025 Kendall remains stable! Wahoo! The medications are working yay! 🎉 🙌
Most of you may of seen this update on social media. Apologises for those who have already seen this update.Thank you so much ☺️
Hello everyone,
Thank you for support on this continued journey. It is truly appreciated beyond words.
This update is to let you know that after this update that we won’t be extending the date. That means the Give A Little page for Kendall will be closed down and no further donations will be received.
Kendall is doing well. Currently awaiting MRI and CT scans to determine if the medications are still working. Fingers crossed.
As many are aware my medications become fully funded on the 01/06/2025! Yay! 🎉
A friendly reminder that melanoma is incurable. These drugs I am currently taking are helping by prolonging my life.
Please know that I am not giving up. I am still determined to keep fighting this incurable cruel disease.
We are only a message away and I assure you that we don’t bite. Thank you to those that reach out 📧📱☎️
We are truly thankful for the continued support, the encouragement, the motivation, the thoughts, the prayers & the positive vibes, the donations, all of the fundraising efforts, the visits, catchups, calls, emails, food, nominations, messages & so much more. Also a shout out to the businesses that shared my story. Truly appreciate it!
This isn’t a goodbye but see you real soon.
We truly feel blessed and truly grateful for everyone.
Thank you so much🙏
Keep in touch.
Kind regards,
The Takuta whanau
My results from my appt last week on the 04/06/2025:
- Both of my CT and MRI Scans are good 👍 I am stable!!! Wahoo! Yay! 🥳
- For those who don’t know I’ve broken my little toe. Ouch.
- Funded medications wahoo! 💊 my drugs have officially become funded!!! Wahoo!!! Yay!!! 🙌
*** A friendly Reminder: melanoma is an incurable disease so the medications are helping prolong my life longer.
- Blood test result is good - I am no longer anaemic anymore🩸💉 thanks to the iron tablets.
Here’s my story that I did with Melanoma NZ - https://melanoma.org.nz/patient-perspective-kendalls-story/
Next month being July, can you believe it will be 2 years since my brain surgery. Crazy where that time has gone!
Apologises in advance for those that will see the above message a few times.
Once again thank you so much everyone!!!!
Truly appreciated beyond words. Thank you.
Hi everyone,
Today Pharmac announced its decision regarding treatments against Melanoma.
They are going to fund the unfunded drugs that I have been paying for and taking!
This is great and relief! No words can express how it feels yet. It’s still yet to sink in properly. I’m still in shock as it’s only been a few hours.
This will help a lot of people focus on recovering and not worry about the cost involved!
It is definitely a step forward that NZ needed to make!
Thank you to everyone who has donated, the fundraising efforts, the support, love, care, thoughts, messages, calls, food & so much more. It’s truly amazing and appreciated more than you know! Thank you for the bottom of our hearts!
Hello. Today’s news is a proposal announcement from Pharmac about the unfunded drug treatments against Melanoma Cancer𓍲🧠
These unfunded drugs (dabrafenib and trametinib) 💊 that I am currently taking could possibly become funded on the 1st of June 2025! Fingers crossed 🤞hopefully I still meet the criteria- I’m still researching & reading the proposal….
The proposal can be seen on my Facebook page or seen below as seen on the Melanoma New Zealand Facebook page as reads:
“📢Today Pharmac has released consultation on a proposal which means that from 1 June 2025 many advanced melanoma patients in New Zealand could have access to some melanoma drugs for which they were previously ineligible.
Melanoma New Zealand has been engaging with Pharmac advocating for increased funding for treatments for melanoma patients and providing technical expertise. Today’s proposal signals long-awaited progress.
The medicines are:
• pembrolizumab (branded as Keytruda) for stage 3B or more advanced melanoma that can be removed by surgery
• dabrafenib (branded as Tafinlar) and trametinib (branded as Mekinist) for melanoma with a BRAF mutation that:
- is stage 3B or more advanced and can be removed by surgery
- has spread around the body or can’t be removed by surgery
Pharmac’s full proposal is now on its website https://tinyurl.com/2k5v42ut and it is seeking feedback with a deadline of 4 April 2025.
We will keep you posted.”
Thank you everyone. Of course keep you updated :)
Hey everyone 👋 Hope you are well and that your week is going well so far! 🙂
Apologises in advance for those that will see this messaging a handful of times💓
This time I didn’t send emails out 📧 as didn’t want to jam up the inboxs 📥 anymore 😝 Please pass the update on to those that don’t have social media. Thanks 🙏
Here is the latest results of the two scans (MRI and CT) that I had in early February.
- I am stable! Wahoo! 🥳 🙌 🍾
The plan going forward is to continue the unfunded medications and repeat the scans in about 3 months.
Just a gentle friendly reminder that Melanoma is an incurable disease! 🦠
The unfunded medications 💊 that I am currently taking are helping prolong my life.
At this point in time there is no news or date of when the unfunded medications (Dabrafenib & Trametinib) that I am taking will become funded. Will keep you updated. Fingers and toes crossed 🤞
Please note I am not giving up and I am still determined to keep fighting this incurable disease 🦠 🥊
We are only a message away and I assure you that we don’t bite. Thank you to those that reach out 📧📱☎️
We are truly thank you for the continued support, the encouragement, the motivation, the thoughts, the prayers & the positive vibes, the donations, all of the fundraising efforts, the visits, calls, emails, food, nominations, messages & so much more. From the bottom of our hearts thank you! 💓 We feel extremely blessed. Thank you so much🙏
Hello everyone. We hope that you all had a relaxing Christmas & New Year holidays with friends & whanau 🎅🏽 🎄 🎁 ❤️ 🏖️ 🍱 🎂 📸
Looking ahead- I will have scans in the coming months to see where I am at. These scans are to check if the unfunded medications 💊 are still working. Will keep you updated of the results when I know. Fingers crossed🤞 🩻
Believe it or not that on the 20th of January 2025 (Monday) it will mark the 2 years that I was diagnosed with Melanoma cancer. The stage 4 part came later. What a journey! 🧠 🏥 💉 🩻
This journey certainly hasn’t been easy. There are truly not enough words to describe/express how grateful and blessed that you are with us on this journey. Thank you 🙏
A friendly reminder that Melanoma is an incurable disease. The unfunded medications 💊 that I am currently taking are helping prolong my life. Will keep you updated on when the unfunded medications (Dabrafenib & Trametinib) become funded. There is no news yet.
Please note I am not giving up and I am still determined to keep fighting this incurable disease 🦠 🥊
We are only a message away and I assure you that we don’t bite. Thank you to those that reach out! 📧📱
Yet again we are truly thank you for the support, prayers, positive vibes, donations, the fundraising efforts, visits, calls, emails, food, nominations, messages & gifts. From the bottom of our hearts thank you! 🙏 💓 We feel extremely blessed. Thank you so much🙏
Afternoon everyone. Apologises to those who have already seen this message once or twice before. Can you believe it’s coming up to 2 years since being diagnosed Stage 4 Melanoma cancer! Where did that time go?
On the 27th of November 2024 I received my MRI Scan results. The MRI scan I had earlier the previous week. My MRI scan results of my Brain 🧠 are what follows:
- No new growth
- No major changes
- There is some increase colouring on the scan for some spots across my brain. This could be just the spots being more noticeable in comparison to last MRI scan. The MRI scan Reporter noted these changes but the Registrar (Dr) who gave me the results couldn’t see what they were talking about. We both looked at the scan.
The plan is to continue with the unfunded medications 💊 A friendly reminder that Melanoma is an incurable disease
These unfunded medications are helping prolong my life so I can have more time & make core memories with my husband, children, family & friends. Thank you.
We are only a message away and I assure you that we don’t bite ❤️
Thank you for the support, prayers/positive vibes, donations, fundraising efforts, visits, phone calls, food, nominations, messages & gifts. From the bottom of our hearts thank you! ❤️ We feel extremely blessed.
Have an amazing time with family and friends over this holiday period. Take care and be safe.
Getting in early but Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone 🎄 🎆
Thank you so much everyone! ❤️
Hello, where has 2024 gone? Since my last update back in August we have had John-henry’s birthday, my birthday, our wedding anniversary & Taimana’s birthday.
I completed a CT scan in early October. On 30/10/24 I got my results.They are: Status quo so it remains unchanged and I have found a new lump which will require investigation.
The game plan going forward is: continue the unfunded medications, schedule investigations for the mystery lump and schedule a MRI scan of my brain.
As at the 01/11/24 I underwent the investigations for the lump on 30/10/24. I was seen the next day.The results of the lump - it’s only tissue!
No Government funding yet - keep you updated. A reminder the unfunded medications will only help prolong my life. Sadly melanoma is an incurable disease.
Thank you to the donation from mystery Penny. There’s honestly no words but know from the bottom of our hearts we are extremely grateful!
Thank you to our children’s daycare and school. You guys are truly amazing at the work that you do on the daily. True legends!
I’ve been reflecting lately on the jobs I had- it would have been 6yrs at my last job in CHCH, but 9yrs in total for the company. Miss you guys truly! Dont forget the 2025 calendars! 😛
Guys we are only a message away and I assure you that we don’t bite.
Thank you for the support, prayers/positive vibes, fundraising, visits, food, messages & donations. From the bottom of our hearts thank you!
Hello everyone, we hope you are all well and keeping warm. Can you believe that we are already over half way through 2024?
A continue thank you to everyone who has donated and continue to support us. It’s truly appreciated and no words can truly express how truly grateful and blessed we are.
How am I feeling? With the unfunded medications I am currently taking I do suffer side effects - on and off fevers, tiredness and skin changes for an example. The tiredness could still be from the brain surgery. These side effects have been minimal. Fingers crossed - it stays that way.
CT body scan July 2024 results:
The latest results of my July CT scan of my body shows that I am stable and no new growth! Wahoo!
Funding for unfunded meds:
We are still not sure when the funding will come into place for the unfunded medications I am currently taking. Could be 1 year away yet but fingers crossed it’s earlier.
For those in Whangarei/ Northland based:
It was lovely catching up with you on our recent trip :)
There is a fundraiser event that my Aunty is running. It will be held on Fri 16 Aug 2024, from 6:30pm–11:30pm. I’ll leave the link below for those interested to purchase tickets. https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2024/hand-bag-high-heel-swap-and-dance-in-the-dark-glow-sticks/whangarei
Thank you everyone. Take care. Aroha.
Updating to extend the date. Kendall will be sharing an update shortly. Thank you everyone.
Thank you for the messages, prayers/positive thoughts, support, fundraising, donations, meals & more. No words can truly express how truly thankful! Thank you
I would like to thank Emily from Plazmart NZ for her kindness, checking up on me and for sharing my Give A Little page. We got donations from complete strangers. Thank you ❤️
I would like to thank Anna from My Will Wishes for reaching out to me. It was because of one of you purchasing her book via me that she found out about me talking about the book.
If you would like to purchase the My Will Wishes book please go to the website https://www.mywillwishes.com & use the discount code being “Kendall” to get $5 off per book. This kind thoughtful gesture from Anna has also created a lot of tears 😭 Thank you to everyone that has purchased.
I’ve had a few people contact about medications. The unfunded drugs I am currently taking is called Dabrafenib with trametinib. It was listed as part of the 13 drugs that the Government promised to fund. However as at Monday the 24th of June 2024 my unfunded drugs it didn’t make the cut. There will be 7 drugs that will get funding from October/November this year.
As for the remaining 6 drugs, they will be replaced by alternatives "just as good or better" and will be phased in over the next year. This is where my unfunded drugs fit in. I would still need to fund the unfunded drugs until the new phased drugs come into place. This could be up to 1 year period for an example.
We have met with my oncologist on the Wednesday the 19th June to discuss the results of the MRI scan of the brain. The results are: My spots in my brain are SHRINKING! There was one spot for an example that was 20mm which has reduced in size to 13mm! There are other spots shrinking!
Treatment plan is to continue the unfunded treatment, continue the scans while managing the side effects. Yet to do a CT scan for body to see if it’s working.
If allowed to stay on this unfunded treatment for as long as we can pay for it. Thank you for every donation. The unfunded medications that I am taking is currently on the list of cancer drugs that the Government are to fund.
The unfunded treatment that I am on 5 daily oral tablets. If side effects start I am to stop the medication. This is protocol. Side effects could fevers, to skin changes, to headaches, to nausea & more. I may need to seek medical attention/ urgent treatment.
I have been experiencing side effects since starting mainly fevers and skin changes. Ive also developed a cough. I’m on antibiotics to help with that.
Can you believe it’s almost been 1 year since my brain 🧠 surgery~ Woah what a year it has been!
Truly thank you for the messages, the love, the laughs, the prayers/positive vibes/thoughts, the support, the gifts, the fundraising efforts, the donations, the prepared meals, the visits & more.
We truly appreciative of everything! No words can truly express how truly thankful! From the bottom of our hearts.
Hello.Not an update but something very important. It’s a subject we never really talk about. I’d like to tell you about a book about your wishes after you have passed away.
The book is called “My Will Wishes”. It’s written by a fellow Kiwi author. I am telling everyone about this book because I believe in this book and due to my current health situation. If you know me well — you will know I’m a planner 🙂 but we all should be prepared.
This book is super personalised as you answer and complete it yourself so it’s in your own handwriting and your thoughts/requests ❤️ By doing this doesn’t leave your family or friends wondering what you wanted or doubting themselves.
This book asks you questions about what you would like. It is super hard to complete this book as it is confronting and asks some questions that I myself have never ever thought about.
Some of the questions you will ponder on for a few days. It seriously gets you thinking about what you would like when you do pass away.
From funeral requests, to carrying on family tradition’s, to your belongings, to your pets and the list countiues on.
A few people I have already mentioned this book to have already purchased this book and given some to their family members.
I’ll post the website along below with a discount code of SHOP2024 if you would like $5 off per book. Reminder there are shipping costs. Thank you. I am not sponsored just want to share the knowledge and help others ❤️
Update to the code: please use “Kendall” to get $5 off per book. Just want to share the knowledge and help others ❤️ thank you so much everyone.
Hello. We’ve had a few people asking what is happening concerning my treatment plan. In April I started taking unfunded medication ($4k-$7k NZD per month). I am extremely fortunate to be able to do this option. Thank you again to everyone that has made this possible.
The plan is to do two months worth of unfunded medication before a scan. The scan will determine if the unfunded treatment if it’s working or not!
With any medication there are side effects. I have been experiencing tiredness, fevers & skin changes. In early May I was admitted to hospital overnight. I was experiencing high fevers, coughing, vomiting and voice changes.
I had to stop the treatment while I was in hospital. Done a chest x-ray which the results showed I had pneumonia. A course of antibiotics and on the mend.
Don’t be scared to reach out to either of us. We have a few people say that they have wanted to message us but they haven’t. Mainly the reason is because they don’t want to bombard us or they know that others will be messaging us so they don’t want to burden us.
Apologies to those who may of seen this update already!
Yet again thank you for the messages, the love, the laughs, the prayers/positive vibes/thoughts, the support, the gifts, all of the fundraising efforts, the donations, the prepared meals, the visits & etc.
We truly thank you and are appreciative of everything! No words can truly express how truly thankful! From the bottom of our hearts.
Thank you
Hi. I won’t give up the fight- I’m continuing to fight! For more in depth update please refer to my FB page.
New spots of cancer have been found in my brain and tailbone.
Treatment options: whole head radiation or unfunded treatment. Also been kicked off the funded treatment.
Prognosis: Get the tissues ready now. I’ve been told unfortunately that I’ve only got months to live. Yes months. Not a year. Months.
Leaving work: It’s been a hard decision but I’ve also resigned from work as most of you are aware.I will miss my work whanau of 9 years.
Support: For those that what to help support you can do so by donating below. If you prefer my bank account - please refer to my FB. We are unsure what other support we need/require at this moment.
Shock: Please note that it’s only been under 1 week since we received this news. We are still in shock as I believe you will be as well reading this update. It’s very devastating news.
Easter Sunday Admission: I was admitted to hospital on Easter Sunday and discharged yesterday Friday 5th April. I was admitted due to severe back pain and vomiting I am experiencing. I think with the shock of the news my body reacted this way. I then completed a MRI scan for my back. They are unable to determine what is causing the severe back pain or the vomiting but know that I’m medicated for both.
Thank you: A continued thank you for everything you guys have done so far ! I! ❤️
Just extending the date for those who wish to continue to donate to Kendall and her family. Thank you so much.
Hey everyone :) In early February 2024 we met with my oncologist. The current plan is to stay on my current treatment as my body spots are either stable or shrinking! Yay!
For my brain 🧠 we will be starting Radiation in the near distant future. I have not had Radiation up to this point. Awaiting an appointment with Radiology - hopefully soon. Unknown if it’s a possible treatment option yet.
Side note- I’ve already had my whole head radiation mask ☢️ 😷 made so that’s a head start (yes it’s a pun- thanks Jack for noticing). That’s the current plan of attack at this stage - but it still could change at any moment.
- Can you believe it’s coming up to 31 weeks since my brain 🧠 tumour surgery ?
- Also the middle of this month we are coming up to the 1 year mark of when I was told that I’m stage 4 Melanoma cancer. What a year!
Apologises to those lucky ones that will see or have seen this message twice or even three times.
I’m on repeat again but guys we truly are very appreciative of it. Thank you for the messages, the love, the hugs, the laughs & the tears, the prayers/good positive vibes/thoughts, the support, the care, the understanding, the gifts and cards, all of the fundraising efforts, the donations, the meals/food, offers of babysitting & the list continues. We truly thank you and are appreciative of everything! No words can truly express how truly thankful we are. From the bottom of our hearts Thank you so much. ❤️
Hey everyone. Yesterday (Wed 20 Dec) I’ve been given my results of my most recent CT scan. The results are in (* insert drum roll here 🥁 *)
The results of my December 2023 CT show : No growth or no new spots.
Yay! Exciting! Exactly the news we wanted to hear right before Christmas🎄
Next step to continue treatment and another MRI scan next month.
Apologises to those work colleagues and others that are seeing this message twice.
Thank you once again to everyone. The messages, love, the prayers/vibes/thoughts, the support, the understanding, the gifts/fundraising/donations & the list continues.
We are truly thank you of appreciated of everything! No words can truly express how thankful we are. Thank you so much. ❤️
Merry early Christmas and Happy New years everyone if we don’t see you before then🎄 🎅🏽 ❤️ 🎆 May 2024 be a better year for all of us.
With love from me, Hone-Henare Takuta, Nikarri and Taimana xox
A Continued thank you to everyone
We would like to again thank you to everyone for the continued support, prayers/positive vibes, the aroha/ love, the messages/calls, the surprise & planned visits, patience/understanding, friendships, food/baking/treats, gifts/presents/gift-cards/vouchers, the kind gestures, all the fundraising efforts and the donations from everyone.
We are truly blessed to be surrounded by a lot of caring, positive, supportive, encouraging, loving generous people.
All the above has truly been overwhelming and totally not expected at all!!!!
There has been a lot of tears honestly.
You guys know that we truly are appreciative of it all ❤️
Can you believe that it’s been 4 months since brain surgery! It’s almost been a whole year since I was diagnosed Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer (January 2023).
Brain area:
Earlier this month I had an MRI scan to check what is going on with my brain since my surgery.
- No major changes. Yay!!!
- There have been minimal changes. Those changes are that there are some small minor spots across my brain have appeared. I will continue to have close monitoring/regular MRI scans.
- No change in size of the Melanoma tumour on the left side of my brain.
For the rest of my body:
I am continuing with Immunotherapy to keep fighting the other Melanoma cancer cells located across my body.
Awaiting my next CT scan to see how we are going. Fingers crossed we are continuing to beat it! I’ll update when the results are in.
Hello. I am recovering well and if you saw me in person you wouldn’t even know that I’ve had brain surgery over 7 weeks ago. I will continue with treatment I am on as it continues to work. On Monday I got results of my recent CT scan. I am stable and the tumours in my body are continuing to shrink!!! Yay! We hope and pray that they continue to do so! I won’t be doing radiation at this point in time due to: 1. The tumour on my left side of my brain is too small for radiation. 2. The area on my right side of my brain where the neurosurgeons removed the bleeding tumours is too big due to removing a lot of brain tissue due to the bleeding. It’s left a huge cavity in my brain. 3. It is also super close to my optical nerve (my vision). I will be in having ongoing MRI scans to watch these areas. Because of the brain surgery I am not able to drive for a whole year. This could be reviewed at 6 months. Because of the surgery I am at risk of having a seizure at any time and anywhere. This week I’ve started back at work part time hours. I am loving being back. Thank you yet again for the continuing support, prayers, positive thoughts, aroha, understanding, patience, friendship, messages, the fundraising efforts across the nation across from different organisations, the planned / surprise visits, food/baking, flowers, the gifts and cards, sharing of the give a little page and the donations. On behalf of John-Henry, Nikarri, Taimana and I would like to say thank you to each one of you ❤️
Hi everyone 👋
Great news is Kendall was discharged home a couple of days ago after her brain 🧠 surgery. She is continuing to rest and recover, while adjusting to her new normal.
We still have a journey ahead of us but I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who sent words of support, donated to our give a little page and thank you to those who continue to pray for her and our family.
We definitely feel the support guys!!!
Thank you ❤️
Hi Everyone,
Just a short & sweet update to let you all know that Kendall's brain surgery went well.
She's currently resting.
Please continue to send prayers, and support her way.
You really are a fighter, Kendall.
We all love you so much 💓
GET THE TISSUES READY…
Hi Everyone,
For all of those who don’t know, my big sister, Kendall, is in hospital awaiting brain surgery. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma cancer earlier this year.
Unfortunately, she was rushed to hospital on Thursday morning after suffering blurred & double vision and nonstop vomiting.
After a few tests, a CT and MRI scan, we can confirm that she has melanoma tumours in her brain. Two of them are bleeding, causing pressure within her skull.
To relieve this pressure, her oncology team and neurologists have suggested that removing these tumours will be the best treatment option for her. The third tumour will be treated with radiation or chemotherapy- this is waiting to be determined.
She will be having brain surgery tomorrow afternoon. As expected, with a surgery as serious as this is, there are some life changing risks and an unknown recovery period. Due to this, we are asking for any donations (big or small) to please be put towards their give a little page (I’ll pop the link in below). Any money donated will be used for mortgage repayments, fuel, food etc to help the family through this already tough time.
I will do an updated post tomorrow evening after her surgery.
Please continue to pray, show support and send your love to her, JH, the kids & our extended whanau. Please avoid messaging Kendall & John-Henry at this time… she will read your comments below 🙂 ❤️
Hello everyone,
We hope you and your whanau are all well. Recently we have met with the Oncology team. The positive news: The treatment is working well. There are some side affects being tiredness and nausea.
Some of the smaller cancer spots in my body have completely disappeared. None of the cancer spots have grown. No new spots. Some cancer spots have become thicker - which can happen when on treatment. Most of the cancer spot tumours have either stopped growing or have become smaller! Exactly the news we wanted to hear!!!!
I was advised that the fractured rib I have is also healing. We didn’t even know I had a fractured rib! This was definitely news to us and a shock honestly!
The treatment plan is to continue with the Immunotherapy infusions and have regular CT scans to check how the cancers are reacting to it all.
Once again we truly appreciate all the prayers, the support, the checking in, the thoughts, the gifts for the kids, the gifts for us, the fundraising efforts, the chats and the messages, the positive vibes/thoughts, the gift cards, the donations, the food, the kindness, the understanding, the continued friendship and for continuing to treating us like normal!
I know that we keep saying it but we truly mean what we say that no words can truly express what this has meant to us! Believe us this has been all overwhelming! But truly know that we are truly thankful for all of it!
Thank you so much.
On behalf John-Henry, myself and our children.
Hi everyone,
Firstly we would like to thank everyone for their support, kind words, gifts, donations and prayers for us during this time. It truly is overwhelming and truly appreciated beyond words.
Kendall has had her first dose of treatment. She has suffered some minimal side affects but is pushing through it as well as she can.
In the next couple of months Kendall will receive her second dose of treatment. We will then find out sometime after if the treatment is working or if we need to stop to go onto a unfunded treatment. Will try to keep this page updated as best as we can. Thank you to everyone.
