Can you help support Moana in her cancer battle?

Moana Smith was a bubbly, athletic, social 30 year old who lived life to the fullest.

She’s now lost her battle to advanced stage 4 bladder cancer.

 

Since being diagnosed in 2021 at age 29, Moana went through six rounds of intense chemotherapy and radiation therapy to try and shrink the multiple tumours that were located throughout her body. Her chemo journey was challenging both emotionally and physically, leaving her body extremely weak and in a constant state of debilitating pain.

 

Because of the type of cancer and the extent of the spread, surgery was not an option. After rounds of chemotherapy, Moana had been advised that the tumours were not shrinking. 

 

In March 2022 Moana was admitted to the hospital with a fever and excruciating pain throughout her entire body. Her medical team advised her the pain she was experiencing is too great to be managed by drugs any longer. Because of this, the heartbreaking decision was made to insert a permanent epidural, leaving her permanently paralysed from the waist down all to improve her quality of life and manage her pain moving forward.

 

This horrible disease affected her ability to continue working, earn an income, study, and enjoy her passions like fitness and time with her friends and family.

Unfortunately, in June this year Moana passed away surrounded by her family. 

 

We are asking for donations for her family - Tammy, Jack, Jimmy & Rangi Smith as well as Ariki (Moanas Aunt) and Peter (Moanas Uncle) Bourolias to use to the funds for Moanas funeral and remaining medical expenses. 

 

Mena and Tarsha X