Fight Cancer with Eddy Tuilotolava
On Friday 17th August 2018 at only 20 years of age Eddy Tuilotolava was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ewing Sarcoma (Bone Cancer). A tumour the size of a golf ball had grown on the sole of Eddy’s right foot and had spread into his lungs.
At the time of diagnosis Eddy was given a life expectancy of only 3 months.
Since then Eddy has received 5 different forms of chemotherapy each lasting about 6 months and unfortunately most of the treatments left him bedridden either at home or in hospital for weeks on end due to neutropenia and the intense side effects from the medication. As well as receiving chemotherapy, Eddy also endured several rounds of radiation to his brain, lungs and back.
Since Eddy was first diagnosed the cancer has spread and is now not only in his right foot but also in both lungs, his oesophagus, brain (received lifesaving brain surgery April 2020), his stomach, right shoulder, neck, pelvis bones and femurs, and yet Eddy stays incredibly strong & resilient and extremely full of faith.
Eddy is a proud Tongan man who was born and raised in New Zealand. When Eddy was 8 years old he moved to Melbourne with his Parents, Karen & Rodin, and two brothers, Maile (William) & Rodin Junior. Eddy dreams of becoming a professional Rugby League player and was signed with the Melbourne Storm Rugby League Club as a junior. At the age of 18 Eddy was offered a contract with the Newcastle Knights Under 20’s Holden Cup team which he accepted and moved to Newcastle alone, leaving his family behind. Eddy gained employment as a full time Barber and continues to thrive in the barber industry when his sickness isn’t holding him back. Eddy was on the brink of an NRL contract when his world was turned upside down with the diagnosis.
After a long and testing 3 years Eddy has recently been referred to palliative care as well as being prescribed a new chemotherapy treatment which is expected to improve his quality of life but is no longer deemed a curative treatment.
One of Eddy’s greatest wishes and also one of his last resorts is to receive immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer the way your body was made to, unlike chemotherapy which attacks your immune system while it tries to fight the cancer cells.
Unfortunately immunotherapy is not covered by the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) for patients with Bone Cancer. The PBS provides access to necessary and lifesaving medicines at an affordable price.
As a result of this, Eddy will be forced to pay an upfront cost of almost $80,000.
As this could potentially be the lifesaving treatment Eddy has been praying for, desperate times call for desperate measures and Eddy is hoping to raise the money in time to receive the treatment and get the chance to live a life he deserves. Eddy is a step Dad to a beautiful 7 year old girl who wants her ‘Dadda’ to “not be sick anymore so he can do all the fun stuff”.
On behalf of Eddy, THANK YOU!! Thank you to everyone who has already given so selflessly over the years and continues to do so. It’s a big ask but Eddy has unquestionable faith and is more than capable of fighting this and getting to the finish line.