Young Mum, Rare Cancer. Help Sariah Fight for More Time.
Support Sariah, a young mum with advanced Gastric Cancer, in her fight for more time and treasured memories with her daughters.
Auckland
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
Use of funds
This Givealittle page is to help cover the cost of receiving/administering the Immunotherapy in the private health setting which is 45k for 1 year. The cost of the Nivolumab has already been covered.
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Latest update
From Terminal to Possible: My Miracle Cancer Journey 4 December 2025
Kia Ora , Talofa , Hello!
As many of you know, in March I was given a devastating diagnosis: inoperable, advanced gastric cancer with a prognosis of just one year. At that time, surgery wasn't an option because the cancer had spread. My only hope was a combination of Chemotherapy and an unfunded immunotherapy drug called Nivolumab. The treatment worked better than anyone dared to hope. The scans in September showed that the immunotherapy and chemotherapy had done their job. There was no spread of the cancer and the response was so significant that my medical team changed my status from "inoperable" to "operable." In October, I underwent a major surgery to remove the primary tumor. Out of 24 lymph nodes removed, the cancer remained in only one. The main tumor was now resected too. The Next Steps While the surgery was a success, the fight isn't over yet. To ensure the cancer does not return, my oncologists have recommended I continue the Nivolumab immunotherapy for another six months. This is to "mop up" any microscopic cells left behind and protect this second chance at life I’ve been given.
Because this drug remains unfunded in New Zealand, I need to raise a further $45,000 to complete this treatment.
I am asking for your help one last time to cross this finish line. You have already bought me time—now, you are helping continue to have a future with Mahalia-June and Amaia.
Thankyou for standing with us! & Merry Christmas from me and girls. 🎄❤️
Sariah. X
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