My name is Michael, and I am writing this with a heavy heart about my beautiful wife.

This year has been the hardest of our lives. My wife was diagnosed with cancer and has already undergone three major surgeries. She has shown incredible strength, but the reality is she is not doing well. The physical and emotional toll has been overwhelming.

Because of her illness, she is unable to work. She has exhausted all of her sick leave and has no income coming in. Right now, we are relying on food donations and the kindness of others just to get through each week. It is heartbreaking to see someone who has always given so much to others now struggling just to survive.

On top of her health battle, my wife carries a lifelong pain.

Her mother, Darlene Geertsema, went missing in Tasmania in 1978 and has never been found. For decades, my wife has lived without answers. Not knowing what happened to her mum has been a weight she has carried her entire life.

Now, as she faces cancer, one of her deepest wishes is to finally know the truth. She has said to me, “I don’t want to leave this world without knowing what happened to my mum.”

We are raising funds to:

• Help cover rent, bills and basic living expenses

• Support her ongoing medical care and recovery

• Relieve the financial stress during this devastating time

• Assist in efforts to search for answers about her mum’s disappearance

Any donation, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference to our family. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this page — that alone helps more than you know.

From a husband who just wants to ease his wife’s suffering and help her find peace, thank you for your compassion and support.