Help Erna with her “Cancer” battle.

Initially, the aim is to raise funds to meet the day-to-day costs of keeping Erna cared for in hospital, and to carry out more tests post-surgery for Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. She is currently in hospital in her hometown of Kupang, Timor, Indonesia.

Erna had surgery 30 April and has not been able to eat or drink since. She is still receiving nutrition intravenously. The next few days are critical in Erna’s recovery.

Who is Erna, who am I, and why am I helping Erna?

I am Richard Andrews, a long-standing Real Estate Agent in Perth, Western Australia, a lover of South-East Asia, and particularly Bali. I am Erna’s closest “Western” friend. We met in Bali straight after the Covid travel restrictions ended. We instantly bonded, and our friendship has been unwavering. As my closest fellow Western friends (who also travel to Bali) know, Erna has always called me “Papa”.

Erna Hage is a 33-year-old university qualified nurse, and since graduating has spent most of her working life in Bali.

Erna is single, doesn’t drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs; and she’s not a party girl. She mainly cooks her own meals with ingredients bought from the traditional market, and grazes on fruit and snacks. She doesn’t like sweets. All in all, she leads an extremely healthy lifestyle.

She is a typical Indonesian village girl who seized the opportunity to leave the village and further her education, a rarity indeed.

Erna is the eldest of eight children, the rest being boys.

Erna lives on a tight budget, watching every rupiah she earns. Every month when she is paid, she sends a portion of her salary to her mother in the home village, and a portion to her eldest brother, who is married with two young children.

Erna’s illness journey.

As you may know, Ovarian Cancer is sneaky. It often goes undetected until it has spread to within the pelvis and stomach. In the early stages it has no symptoms.

This is exactly what happened in Erna’s case.

For months she had been fatigued and only just capable of working. Then one day she suddenly collapsed on the street and was taken to hospital. She was diagnosed with “anaemia” and after a short timer in hospital, was sent home. This happened two more times.

Eventually she was given a blood transfusion and sent home again.

Then the intense pain started. She returned to hospital; they removed her appendix and was sent home once again.

The pain became intolerable, and her stomach began to swell. She returned to hospital, more tests were carried out, and the cancer diagnosis eventually given.

Faced with the prospect of life saving surgery, and no family in Bali to care for her, Erna returned to Kupang, Timor to be close to family.

I arrived in Bali for a holiday 29 April. The last I knew was that her appendix had been removed. Erna wasn’t answering her phone or responding to my messages.

On 5 May I received a call from Erna with the news. This was the first time she was well enough to ring me following the surgery.

That Friday, Fiya and I flew to Kupang to visit Erna in the ICU.

Where will the money go?

I have created this GoFundMe page to help with the financial burden put directly onto Erna and her family. Although a large family, they are villagers and earn a modest income.

Nursing in the hospital is only covering the treatment and giving of medication. The family take care of the patient. Erna has at least one family member by her side 24/7. They provide the care that we in the West normally receive from the nursing staff.

Your generous contributions will go directly towards her medical expenses and care.

Even the smallest amount will count towards a better outcome for Erna. And if you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page with your network of friends.

Together, we can show Erna that she is not alone in this fight. Let’s rally around her with love, support, and hope as she faces this incredible challenge.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and support during this difficult time.