Some families face more than their fair share of hardship and the Hurley family is one of them.

Over the past 3 years, they’ve endured incredible challenges. They lost their business and their home, all while navigating ongoing health struggles within their family. Through it all, they’ve remained strong, resilient, and deeply devoted to one another.

Now, Laura a loving mum to three beautiful children and devoted wife to Matt is facing a serious health battle of her own. Laura was diagnosed with Melanoma in 2023 where she had surgery to remove the Melanoma from her leg. She spent the next 12 months on cancer treatment then in June and November last year she had recurrence of the Melanoma which needed to be surgically removed as well.

In early February she went to Emergency at Latrobe Regional Hospital with chest pains where a CT scan showed widespread bony metastasis, the cancer spreading to her bones. The disease has spread quickly and is now in her spine, chest and pelvis.

Laura began treatment on the 11th of February, but soon after became very unwell and was admitted to hospital on the 24th of February. Initial blood tests revealed dangerously high calcium levels, and she was quickly transferred to the ICU.

Over the following days, Laura faced a series of serious complications. She developed an infection requiring antibiotics, experienced severe fluid build-up in her lungs, legs, and feet, and suffered a widespread rash that covered her entire body. A CT scan also revealed three fractures in her spine, leaving her in significant pain due to the bone lesions.

Amid all of this, Laura was transferred to The Alfred Hospital for specialist care, where she spent a week between the ICU and the ward. Once the majority of these complications were brought under control, she was transferred back to Latrobe Regional Hospital for ongoing care and was discharged home on Tuesday the 17th.

While we are grateful she is now home, Laura’s journey is far from over and with her health issues and ongoing cancer treatment she will not be able to work for an extended period time. On top of this, Matt has only just started a new job and is not yet entitled to paid leave, yet he is balancing caring for their children and Laura at home.

The emotional and financial strain is overwhelming.

We are raising funds to help ease that burden to help with groceries, make sure their rent is paid on time and ensure their children’s school fees are paid so their education can continue uninterrupted.

Any support, big or small, will mean more than words can express to them during this time.