FUNds for Sophie!
Donation protected
On December 22nd 2015, Sophie was in the Emergency Room of RPA in excruciating pain, when a doctor she had never seen before walked in and introduced himself. Without any warning or preamble he said “I’ve just been down to pathology and have your results, we’re going to admit you and start chemo as soon as possible. The surgeon wants to amputate your leg but I think we should try treatment first.” Sophie had to ask “So I have cancer then?” That’s how she was diagnosed at 18. Without any preparation or kindness her fight began.
Everything stopped and chemotherapy dominated the next two months of her life. She spent weeks being too ill to function. This was followed by surgery; an attempt to remove the tumour in her right leg which, while successful, had life altering consequences. The tumour had wrapped so tightly around the nerves in her leg that the only way to remove it was to completely cut the nerve. This meant a permanent loss of feeling and control of her right foot. A permanent disability that Sophie had to learn to live with. She had to learn to walk again. She spent months doing rehab. On top of rehab, Sophie began a six week course of radiation.
All this seemed to be worthwhile when in August of 2016 Sophie was told she was cancer free, she would be closely monitored but didn’t require any further treatment right now. She enrolled to continue her studies and began to have the life of a normal 19 year old.
In March of 2017 a routine check up/scan showed a spot in her right lung. She was referred to a lung surgeon and was operated on within two weeks. Then began another painful recovery process. A small reprieve, a very small tumour meant that chemotherapy and radiation weren’t required this time around. Everything seemed to be getting better until November of that year when another routine scan found two tumours in her right lung. Again within weeks she was operated on and another recovery process began.
After Sophie fully recovered from the second lung surgery she threw herself into work with the goal of saving up enough money to go to Europe. With the help of her family and a very generous 21st present from her mum she managed it, everything was booked and she was ready to go. The week before she flew out she got a call, her oncologist was retiring so her case was being handed over to another doctor who just wanted to have a current scan done and to meet Sophie in person. This in person meeting was not good news. Another spot had appeared in her left lung, but not wanting her to miss out on a once in a lifetime trip her oncologist allowed her to go on holiday.
The day after she got home from her holiday was another follow up scan and appointment with her oncologist where she was told you need to decide what treatment path you want to take asap because the tumour had grown. Sophie, knowing how horrible chemotherapy was, decided to try a course of immunotheraphy. Other people in the clinical trial had positive results, so this could be the answer she needed, a way to permanently deal with the cancer. Six weeks of immunotherapy began almost immediately, with everyone involved having a positive outlook. Unfortunately Sophie’s symptoms worsened as she was experiencing incredible amounts of pain and breathlessness. She was unable to continue work and eventually ended up back in hospital.
In September a scan showed the tumour had grown so large it had taken her entire lung and was impacting on her heart. Again a doctor she has never seen before walked into her room, introduced himself and said “If we don’t operate next week you won’t be around anymore.” On the 28th of September, Sophie under went another surgery, this one on a much larger scale than anything she’d experienced before. The twelve week recovery period began and was progressing well, once she was fully healed chemotherapy and radiation would begin in the new year.
Unfortunately nothing goes to plan and in December 2018 Sophie ended up in hospital once again, this time around the tumours had now appeared on her spine. Emergency surgery was performed to remove the tumours and restore feeling to Sophie’s legs. In January of this year radiation had begun, followed soon after by chemotherapy which brings us to the present stage.
Sophie is currently undergoing her third round of chemo with another three planned. For anyone who doesn’t know her this story may be surprising. Surprising that one person could have been through so much in such a short time, surprising that the same person dealing with all of this would still be so kind and happy and willing to do anything for anyone even in her current capacity. We love Sophie so very much and this is our way to show her so, our way to create a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for her, our way to enable her to do anything incredibly fun and uplifting when she feels ready to.
Everything stopped and chemotherapy dominated the next two months of her life. She spent weeks being too ill to function. This was followed by surgery; an attempt to remove the tumour in her right leg which, while successful, had life altering consequences. The tumour had wrapped so tightly around the nerves in her leg that the only way to remove it was to completely cut the nerve. This meant a permanent loss of feeling and control of her right foot. A permanent disability that Sophie had to learn to live with. She had to learn to walk again. She spent months doing rehab. On top of rehab, Sophie began a six week course of radiation.
All this seemed to be worthwhile when in August of 2016 Sophie was told she was cancer free, she would be closely monitored but didn’t require any further treatment right now. She enrolled to continue her studies and began to have the life of a normal 19 year old.
In March of 2017 a routine check up/scan showed a spot in her right lung. She was referred to a lung surgeon and was operated on within two weeks. Then began another painful recovery process. A small reprieve, a very small tumour meant that chemotherapy and radiation weren’t required this time around. Everything seemed to be getting better until November of that year when another routine scan found two tumours in her right lung. Again within weeks she was operated on and another recovery process began.
After Sophie fully recovered from the second lung surgery she threw herself into work with the goal of saving up enough money to go to Europe. With the help of her family and a very generous 21st present from her mum she managed it, everything was booked and she was ready to go. The week before she flew out she got a call, her oncologist was retiring so her case was being handed over to another doctor who just wanted to have a current scan done and to meet Sophie in person. This in person meeting was not good news. Another spot had appeared in her left lung, but not wanting her to miss out on a once in a lifetime trip her oncologist allowed her to go on holiday.
The day after she got home from her holiday was another follow up scan and appointment with her oncologist where she was told you need to decide what treatment path you want to take asap because the tumour had grown. Sophie, knowing how horrible chemotherapy was, decided to try a course of immunotheraphy. Other people in the clinical trial had positive results, so this could be the answer she needed, a way to permanently deal with the cancer. Six weeks of immunotherapy began almost immediately, with everyone involved having a positive outlook. Unfortunately Sophie’s symptoms worsened as she was experiencing incredible amounts of pain and breathlessness. She was unable to continue work and eventually ended up back in hospital.
In September a scan showed the tumour had grown so large it had taken her entire lung and was impacting on her heart. Again a doctor she has never seen before walked into her room, introduced himself and said “If we don’t operate next week you won’t be around anymore.” On the 28th of September, Sophie under went another surgery, this one on a much larger scale than anything she’d experienced before. The twelve week recovery period began and was progressing well, once she was fully healed chemotherapy and radiation would begin in the new year.
Unfortunately nothing goes to plan and in December 2018 Sophie ended up in hospital once again, this time around the tumours had now appeared on her spine. Emergency surgery was performed to remove the tumours and restore feeling to Sophie’s legs. In January of this year radiation had begun, followed soon after by chemotherapy which brings us to the present stage.
Sophie is currently undergoing her third round of chemo with another three planned. For anyone who doesn’t know her this story may be surprising. Surprising that one person could have been through so much in such a short time, surprising that the same person dealing with all of this would still be so kind and happy and willing to do anything for anyone even in her current capacity. We love Sophie so very much and this is our way to show her so, our way to create a bit of light at the end of the tunnel for her, our way to enable her to do anything incredibly fun and uplifting when she feels ready to.
Fundraising team: Sophie's Angels (3)
Matt Atkins
Organizer
Emu Plains, NSW
Gabbie Floate
Team member
Sara-Jai Collier
Team member