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Carmel’s Cancer Family need your help
Hi and thank you to all those stopping by to read about my family – it’s a bit long winded but it gives perspective. This is for my sister Miriam who is the most recent member of our family to be diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
In June of 2015 I received a phone call from my BFF sister Miriam – she was in tears – a biopsy revealed she had Breast Cancer!
Miriam had her breast removed some weeks later and pathology revealed it was Stage 3 Carcinoma. Miriam is staunchly battling the monster called cancer (my knight in shining armour) with her family supporting and loving her through this. I live thousands of kilometres away so spending time with her is very difficult but I really wish I could – there’s nothing like your sister! And phone calls aren’t the same.
My sister will succeed but I fear their finances won’t. Her husband (who is as a brother to me) has taken a second job. Miriam will soon exhaust her leave balances which means she will have to take leave without pay. The physical and emotional strain BC is causing not for just Miriam, but for her husband, three adult children and her grandchildren, is hard enough to endure each day - the last thing they need is financial stress (which is already happening). If we could come up with enough money so Miriam doesn’t need to work whilst going through all this, it would be such a blessing.
Today I am asking if you could find it within your hearts to help us out – no matter how small the amount, we would be so grateful. (I say us because after all my surgeries and with a couple of more surgeries to go I would appreciate a little something to assist with the surgeries. Not to mention my brother who is still feeling the financial strain from his surgery years ago.). Miriam and I are the two youngest and we are close (people used to think we were twins and we have the same mannerisms etc. ) Miriam is 54 and I am 50. We are young for our age and want to enjoy the best that life has to offer! I want to be sitting in our rocking chairs in our 90’s and I mean to achieve this for sure. I couldn’t have children so I am pretty much on my own and would love to live closer to my sister but it’s expensive and complicated to move. In Nov 15 I spent a week with her and am now saving again for the next trip which will be who knows when.
SOME FAMILY BACKGROUND
Cancer began in my family long before I was born with my Grandfather succumbing to a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) on his face. My Mum used to tell the story of how they took care of him but I was young and healthy and thought nothing like that would ever happen to any of us. Being the youngest of 8 and all of us being healthy and happy I really thought Grandad’s death from cancer was a sign of the times back then.
Now I know better – and if anyone had told me at that time that I would have lost both my parents, two of my sisters and five of my nephews by the time I was 50 I would have told them they were crazy. Sadly, and tragically I have been to more funerals than weddings in my lifetime – not that all the deaths have been caused bycancer (some were suicides and accidents) I sincerely hope the rest of the family live long and happy lives. For my sister I am asking for your assistance. Something I’m not sure I’m good at, as my Dad raised us to be self-reliant and independent and I have always found it difficult to ask for help but I am getting better at his.
Brief History:
In 1992 my nephew lost his battle with Leukaemia at the young age of 21. (I was 27 and my Sister Miriam was 31) (His younger brother died 3 years later on the same date in a car accident)
In 1993 My Dad pass away from Emphysema
In 1994 my Mum and her twin sister survived Breast Cancer (BC). They were both in their 70’s and at some point my Mum’s other two sisters survived BC (they are now in their 90’s!)
Over the next few years we lost two nephews – one to suicide and one to an accident.
As far as I’m concerned this was more than enough for any family to cope with.
But the big C struck again. This time our Mum was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2001. We were floored – Mum seemed so healthy and young for her age we really thought she would live to 100 and get a telegram from the Queen – not so….. Six months later Mum was gone and about a year later her twin sister also passed away for the same reason.
And yet there was more to endure…..
In 2008 I received a phone call from my older brother who told me that my other brother (aged 54) had just undergone a double mastectomy owing to BC. I was completely flabbergasted and, as I found this so unusual, I launched my own research journey with regards to familial BC and subsequently decided to go on the offensive and I am now what is known as a “Previvor”.
Not the end yet….
The last four to five years have been hard to endure….
In May of 2011 my 33-year-old nephew took his own life and my sister Miriam and I were two of many who supported his mum (our sis) through this difficult time.
Whilst we were visiting to pay our respects at the funeral and stay a while, we found out our middle sister had BC. Another shock! This made me more determined than ever to have surgery to avoid going through it myself. Sadly, in May of 2012, at the age of 56, our sister lost her fight against BC and passed away. We were numb – this couldn’t be happening. Surely we would have no more bad news? And yet we did….
About a year later we discovered my sister, whose son had committed suicide, now had Melanoma! I hardly know what to write at this point it was like we couldn’t go more than 12 months without something heart-wrenching happening. In June of 2014 the Melanoma took my sister from us…. During this time, she lost her other son to a motorcycle accident.
In November 2014 I had my surgery to prevent me from getting BC and by June 2015 I was feeling like I could see a light at the end of the tunnel as it had been almost 12 months since Melanoma took my sister and we had had no more tragedies…. That is until I got the call from my sister Miriam who told me she had BC. I can’t tell you how I felt – I just can’t. And whilst this may be hard to endure it is no tragedy as my sister is fighting like the trooper she is – Fight Like a Girl!! I have a couple more reconstructive surgeries to go as my journey is almost completed (my finances worse for wear). But Miriam is at the beginning of her journey currently undergoing chemotherapy with plans to undergo radiation therapy upon completion. Then she will need to undergo another surgery to have the other breast removed preventatively and at some point Miriam will undergo reconstructive surgery. This is a long journey which will be taken one step at a time and I am proud of how Miriam is handling our genetic familial issue. She’s like water – water flows gently and yet it is the most powerful force on earth. I truly admire her resilience and the positive outlook she has.
• Imagine if everyone in the world gave just $1. No matter the size of your donation we will be eternally grateful.
• If donating is not a viable option for you right now, then please put a link to this page on your Facebook and spread the word.
• And if the two options above do not suit, please give us your positive kind thoughts and prayers.
Are you willing to be part of our journey to success and resolution and help us out?
With many thanks and much appreciation.
Hi and thank you to all those stopping by to read about my family – it’s a bit long winded but it gives perspective. This is for my sister Miriam who is the most recent member of our family to be diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
In June of 2015 I received a phone call from my BFF sister Miriam – she was in tears – a biopsy revealed she had Breast Cancer!
Miriam had her breast removed some weeks later and pathology revealed it was Stage 3 Carcinoma. Miriam is staunchly battling the monster called cancer (my knight in shining armour) with her family supporting and loving her through this. I live thousands of kilometres away so spending time with her is very difficult but I really wish I could – there’s nothing like your sister! And phone calls aren’t the same.
My sister will succeed but I fear their finances won’t. Her husband (who is as a brother to me) has taken a second job. Miriam will soon exhaust her leave balances which means she will have to take leave without pay. The physical and emotional strain BC is causing not for just Miriam, but for her husband, three adult children and her grandchildren, is hard enough to endure each day - the last thing they need is financial stress (which is already happening). If we could come up with enough money so Miriam doesn’t need to work whilst going through all this, it would be such a blessing.
Today I am asking if you could find it within your hearts to help us out – no matter how small the amount, we would be so grateful. (I say us because after all my surgeries and with a couple of more surgeries to go I would appreciate a little something to assist with the surgeries. Not to mention my brother who is still feeling the financial strain from his surgery years ago.). Miriam and I are the two youngest and we are close (people used to think we were twins and we have the same mannerisms etc. ) Miriam is 54 and I am 50. We are young for our age and want to enjoy the best that life has to offer! I want to be sitting in our rocking chairs in our 90’s and I mean to achieve this for sure. I couldn’t have children so I am pretty much on my own and would love to live closer to my sister but it’s expensive and complicated to move. In Nov 15 I spent a week with her and am now saving again for the next trip which will be who knows when.
SOME FAMILY BACKGROUND
Cancer began in my family long before I was born with my Grandfather succumbing to a Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) on his face. My Mum used to tell the story of how they took care of him but I was young and healthy and thought nothing like that would ever happen to any of us. Being the youngest of 8 and all of us being healthy and happy I really thought Grandad’s death from cancer was a sign of the times back then.
Now I know better – and if anyone had told me at that time that I would have lost both my parents, two of my sisters and five of my nephews by the time I was 50 I would have told them they were crazy. Sadly, and tragically I have been to more funerals than weddings in my lifetime – not that all the deaths have been caused bycancer (some were suicides and accidents) I sincerely hope the rest of the family live long and happy lives. For my sister I am asking for your assistance. Something I’m not sure I’m good at, as my Dad raised us to be self-reliant and independent and I have always found it difficult to ask for help but I am getting better at his.
Brief History:
In 1992 my nephew lost his battle with Leukaemia at the young age of 21. (I was 27 and my Sister Miriam was 31) (His younger brother died 3 years later on the same date in a car accident)
In 1993 My Dad pass away from Emphysema
In 1994 my Mum and her twin sister survived Breast Cancer (BC). They were both in their 70’s and at some point my Mum’s other two sisters survived BC (they are now in their 90’s!)
Over the next few years we lost two nephews – one to suicide and one to an accident.
As far as I’m concerned this was more than enough for any family to cope with.
But the big C struck again. This time our Mum was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2001. We were floored – Mum seemed so healthy and young for her age we really thought she would live to 100 and get a telegram from the Queen – not so….. Six months later Mum was gone and about a year later her twin sister also passed away for the same reason.
And yet there was more to endure…..
In 2008 I received a phone call from my older brother who told me that my other brother (aged 54) had just undergone a double mastectomy owing to BC. I was completely flabbergasted and, as I found this so unusual, I launched my own research journey with regards to familial BC and subsequently decided to go on the offensive and I am now what is known as a “Previvor”.
Not the end yet….
The last four to five years have been hard to endure….
In May of 2011 my 33-year-old nephew took his own life and my sister Miriam and I were two of many who supported his mum (our sis) through this difficult time.
Whilst we were visiting to pay our respects at the funeral and stay a while, we found out our middle sister had BC. Another shock! This made me more determined than ever to have surgery to avoid going through it myself. Sadly, in May of 2012, at the age of 56, our sister lost her fight against BC and passed away. We were numb – this couldn’t be happening. Surely we would have no more bad news? And yet we did….
About a year later we discovered my sister, whose son had committed suicide, now had Melanoma! I hardly know what to write at this point it was like we couldn’t go more than 12 months without something heart-wrenching happening. In June of 2014 the Melanoma took my sister from us…. During this time, she lost her other son to a motorcycle accident.
In November 2014 I had my surgery to prevent me from getting BC and by June 2015 I was feeling like I could see a light at the end of the tunnel as it had been almost 12 months since Melanoma took my sister and we had had no more tragedies…. That is until I got the call from my sister Miriam who told me she had BC. I can’t tell you how I felt – I just can’t. And whilst this may be hard to endure it is no tragedy as my sister is fighting like the trooper she is – Fight Like a Girl!! I have a couple more reconstructive surgeries to go as my journey is almost completed (my finances worse for wear). But Miriam is at the beginning of her journey currently undergoing chemotherapy with plans to undergo radiation therapy upon completion. Then she will need to undergo another surgery to have the other breast removed preventatively and at some point Miriam will undergo reconstructive surgery. This is a long journey which will be taken one step at a time and I am proud of how Miriam is handling our genetic familial issue. She’s like water – water flows gently and yet it is the most powerful force on earth. I truly admire her resilience and the positive outlook she has.
• Imagine if everyone in the world gave just $1. No matter the size of your donation we will be eternally grateful.
• If donating is not a viable option for you right now, then please put a link to this page on your Facebook and spread the word.
• And if the two options above do not suit, please give us your positive kind thoughts and prayers.
Are you willing to be part of our journey to success and resolution and help us out?
With many thanks and much appreciation.