Young Mum, Rare Cancer. Help Sariah Fight for More Time.

Kia ora, Talofa, Hello!

My name is Sariah Nesbit. I’m 25 years old and the proud mum of two beautiful daughters—Mahalia-June (5) and Amaia (3).

I’ve been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of gastric cancer, classified as advanced stage and inoperable. Doctors have given me approximately one year to live with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Just before my diagnosis, I had started studying law at Auckland University, chasing my dream of becoming a lawyer. Overnight, everything changed. Now, I’m focused on what matters most: my girls, my health, and making every moment count.

My medical team is recommending a combination of immunotherapy (Nivolumab) and chemotherapy—a treatment that could offer me more time and better quality of life.

Unfortunately, immunotherapy for advanced gastric cancer is not publicly funded in New Zealand, and the hospital has a strict policy that unfunded drugs cannot be administered in the public system. That means I can only access this treatment through the private health system, which comes with overwhelming costs.

As someone who likes to keep her struggles to herself, opening up like this is incredibly hard. But with the support of my family, friends and medical team, I’m sharing my story in the hope that you might stand with me in this fight.

Every share, donation, or kind message helps give me more time with my daughters. More laughter. More memories. More life.

With love and gratitude,

Sariah Nesbit