Help Simone Beat Cancer

Hi all.

For those who don't know, my partner Simone has recently been diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which helps fight off germs and infections. The main symptom she has experienced so far is swollen lymph nodes in the neck and chest area around the lungs, which has significantly affected her ability to breathe.

Luckily we have wonderful friends who have requested we make a fundraising page so those who can't be near us can still help out.

For those who don't know her; Simone is a happy-go-lucky 23 year old photographer who at the end of last year, began noticing a lump on her neck. After several months of back-and-forth with the doctors, with diagnosis of everything from "Wait and see" to a long-dormant infection in her lymph nodes, to a rare autoimmune disease. We finally were able to push for a biopsy and were given the diagnosis of Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma shortly after.

The medical system in Australia is very good at taking the weight of medical bills off our shoulders; however, it is still a struggle as there are things that require immediate attention and are out-of-pocket expenses.

Our most expensive medical bills are from the regular visits to our local GP and IVF treatment (so far). We didn't expect to do IVF, but the doctors have recommended it as the treatment for Hodgkins Lymphoma can cause permanent issues with fertility, the total of which has been estimated to cost between $1000-$1500 out of pocket, with ongoing storage fees.

These fees have caused our already tight budget to be stretched, and there have been issues with staying on top of our domestic bills. As well as being able to afford a psychologist to help deal with a lot of the emotional impact this has taken on us both

While we don't expect or even ask for help, we appreciate the kindness and care everyone has shown, and we hope we can keep everyone updated through this fundraiser so that we aren't filling people's timelines on Facebook and other social media platforms

If you are unable to donate monetarily, we would appreciate any kind words or messages at this delicate time.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to our story.