Cally's treatment journey - the fight of her life

Hi, My name is Jodie. I have just spent the weekend with the bravest, strongest most courageous person I have ever known, Cally Nielsen.

From the first time I met Cally as a teenager in Monto, I knew she was going to be a forced to be reckoned with. Since this time, I have been privileged to have witnessed Cally's achievements in both her personal and professional life, and watch her succeed in all she set her sights on.

On the 8th February 2024, I got a phone call from Cally that I never saw coming. Cally had been diagnosed with Cancer! From the beginning, Cally and Andy remained positive, optimistic and had the "we've got this" attitude. This attitude has certainly been tested at times, however I continue to be in awe of her strength, determination and will to continue the fight.

Twelve months down the track and there is no doubt that Cally is in the fight of her life. As i am sure you know, Cally has always been a researcher, an analyst, a scientist, an educator, confident, competent and assertive, to name a few and she has needed every one of these skills over this journey so far.

I am sure i am not the only one that has felt helpless watching from the sidelines as this amazing woman fights the biggest battle of her life.

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of spending quality time with Cally, Andy, Summer, Jasper and Judy. This allowed me to gain insight into where the journey is up to and the impacts this diagnosis is having on this beautiful family. What I have learnt is that the treatment that Cally has recently started on is not covered under any 'trial' and in fact Cally and Andy are having to fund the treatment themselves. To put this into perspective, each treatment costs around $9000 per month. This has to be paid upfront for the medications to be ordered in. This doesn't include the pain medications, scans or Specialist Appointments, Cally will also require moving forward. Whilst Cally was initially accepted onto Trials, this did not work out and a new treatment plan had to be developed. Hence now having to finance the treatment.

This is where I come into this journey and can do something within my power to support Cally, Andy, Summer and Jasper in this journey they find themselves on. I am setting up this Fundraiser so that people like myself can make a financial donation (any contribution big or small will be a blessing) and hopefully provide one less thing that this family have to worry about.