Help me go Bald for my Bestie Melina in her cancer fight

A letter to my best friend, Melina.

'It's breast cancer', you said.

I was at work, your appointment not at all on my radar as I've been on this benign lumpy boob journey with you for over 20 years. I picked up the phone to you, and to be honest I can't recall what words you said only the sound in your voice and it wasn't until you said the words 'it's breast cancer' that it jolted me back into the phone call. That sound will forever be tattoed, just like the matching tatts on our wrists. Due to our distance, I rely heavily on your tone of voice, sighs and silences as I don't get to look at your face daily or pop around easily for a cuppa. Your voice that day will forever change July 24. The day you found out you have breast cancer. Our phone conversations and plane visits are now drowning in MRI's, pet scans, drains, oncologiststs, surgeons, chemo, radiation, mastectomy. The suddeness taking my breath away. What?!?! The noise too loud for me. For you, it must be deafening.

Some days when you talk to me about it, it's like we are talking about someone else. You were just going to have another breast check, like you've always done anytime a lump had come up. Another appointment, possibly a biopsy and maybe another lump removal, for caution sake. It's never been anything too serious.

You were so tired in the lead up to your diagnoses. Abnormally tired and you were sleeping more than you ever have before. But given the personal stresses of the last 5 years, I thought you were healing and recovering. You also had a niggly cough and sore chest and back. You did all the right things by going to the doctors, sent away after an xray, with the standard phrase these days, 'it's likely from c0vid'.

It's so easy to go down the dark hole of 'you didn't deserve this', especially when I think of your two beautiful children who also don't deserve this. Talk about a multi-generational Karma misalliance. Karma certainly got the wrong address. If only we could return to sender this bitch.

This was meant to be your time. You just landed an incredible job that you really enjoy. They have been amazing in supporting you through this time. You also met the love of your life, Darren, and together you just bought your very first home. I love how you fiercely love each other and how effortlessly you love each others children. Finally, you were right where you were supposed to be, surrounded safely in love and affection.

It's hard to think that this time last year we were celebrating our 20 year friendship anniversary, with matching tatts, we dancing carelessly in the living room to Horses, singing at the top of our lungs, in complete oblivion to what was ahead, 12 months later.

You are so loved and emotionally supported by Darren, your chidren, your mum and dad, your family, Darren's family and your beautiful friendships and while this situation is beyond our control, and we give all our trust to your medical team, relieving some financial stress is where this gofundme comes into play. So while you are in the biggest fight of your life to date, the money raised here will mean you won't have to fight so hard financially. This diagnosis comes with unexpected medical costs and has a financial impact that will continue long after your chemo treatments.

I want to raise money for you, raise awareness and action for cancer and raise a glass to the strongest woman I know, you. So, if we can reach the $30k target to alleviate some financial pressures by Sunday 15th December, I will be going Bald for My Bestie! I will shave my head at an event on Saturday, 21st December in Perth, live streamed so everyone that has contributed can be part of this.

Love, we've gone from matching tshirts for girls trips to matching tattoos in celebration of us. Why not matching bald heads. We are all standing behind you, beside you and in front of you, depending on what you need, as you beat this bitch.

You will dance again my beautiful bestie. You'll dance so hard to music so loud. You'll sing at the top of your cough free lungs, with your shoes in one hand and a champagne in the other. And 'if you fall, I'll pick you up, I'll pick you up'.

Love Billee