Cancer Hope for mum of 4

Hi, my name is Leonie, and I am fundraising for Loredana.

A little background to our story, we met 20+ years ago at uni and have been there for each other ever since. Two weddings and 7 kids later, the friendship is as strong as ever. We are Zia (aunty) that is not Zia, we don’t see each other every day but that doesn’t matter. We are the family we have chosen for each other.

Now the reason I am doing this, Lore was finally diagnosed about 2.5 years ago with stage 4 bowel cancer. Doctors past it off as constipation, irritable bowel and a host of other things but never did any real tests. It took one doctor in the ER to order one additional test and thank God he did. Without him we may be without her by now.

That test changed Lore’s life in an instant, from then it was a whirlwind, not only for her but for her husband and 4 kids.

First surgery was to remove the cancer and a large part of her bowl, leaving Lore with a permanent colostomy bag. More tests showed the cancer had spread; it was now invading her lungs. Chemo was started but to make matters harder COVID was in full swing. Chemo is hard enough for anyone but imagine having to walk in and go through your first treatment alone. The staff are amazing, but nothing beats having the support of a loving partner or family member by your side.

Chemo did its worst to Lore’s body, but it did its job. Reducing not only the number of lesions but what was left reduced in size. The specialist lung surgeon that was watching her case was now prepared to take the chance to operate.

So, he literally held her lung in his hands and cut out not only the lesions he could see in the scans but the many others that were not seen. Six weeks late the same surgery was performed on the other lung. It was too much stress on Lore’s body to have both done at the same time.

Two more weeks go by, and chemo started again. The doctors were happy with her progress. Things were looking up.

Unfortunately, pain struck again, yet again another ER visit. This time to be told she had a large growth (cancer) on her ovary. Another surgery required to remove it, recovery and then back to more chemo.

Another set back but Lore kept moving forward, yes, the why me sets in but the pity party was short lived before the fuck you cancer attitude was back.

With the interruption to Chemo the lung lesions started growing. More and more rounds of chemo, it all started to take a major toll on Lore’s body. Hospitalised for weeks at a time and in pain. It was just so unfair.

Her doctor’s (too many to list) decided that chemo tablets were her best chance as her body couldn’t handle the aggressive chemo anymore. So, $9,000 later, that’s the out-of-pocket expense, the tablets were started.

Now to today, her oncologist is strongly recommending STIVARGA (regorafenib) and combine that with immunotherapy. They are getting great results from trails that has been done with this combination.

It is all well and good for doctors to say that and give you the hope you so desperately need but to then turn around and tell you it is going to cost $100,000, come on. Most people don’t have that sort of money.

Long story short this is Lore’s best chance at beating cancer, and I will try anything to help her, hell I would give her a lung if I could.

So, I am asking you please help to give this amazing woman a second chance at life, to watch her 4 out of this world kids grow up, get married, do all the things we take for granted every day.

I can’t and won’t except a world with out my beautiful friend, twin from another mother.

Please I don’t care the amount of your donation I thank you from the bottom of my hear for giving Lore and her family the chance she does so truly deserve.