Help Sarah, A Mum Of 2, Fight Cancer!

Hi, Its Kylie and Kayla here. We are starting this page for our very dear friend of 25 years Sarah Kitiona, as she is currently in the fight of her life at the age of only 36.

In early 2020 Sarah and her husband Nick were planning for baby number 3 when Sarah started experiencing bleeding and abnormal bowel movements. After seeing the doctor she booked in for a routine colonoscopy and woke to the devastating news that a tumor had been found which lead to the diagnosis of stage 4 rectal cancer. After further testing it was concluded that the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and therefore immediate and aggressive chemotherapy was required.

In June 2020 her treatment journey began. As Sarah was considered a young and healthy individual her oncologist team recommended she undergo 3 aggressive chemotherapy drugs at once and radiation to help her fight this disease. Sarah endured 6 months of what she describes as 'going to hell and back'.

The treatment took a huge toll on her physically, mentally and emotionally. Sarah sadly faced her appointments and chemotherapy alone as she was unable to have a support person present due to COVID, which made this already difficult time even harder. She was forced to give up work due to the severe side affects of her treatment. Most days she was left exhausted, sick and bed ridden. Sadly, this left her unable to be the active and present mother she usually was to her 2 precious beautiful kids, Leilani and Mase who are only 7 and 5. Her husband Nick has been her rock during all of this, working full time to support his family whilst also caring for Sarah and taking on the role of Mum and Dad. Adding to this terrible situation, Nick was already grieving the sudden loss of his brother and his father in recent years.

Early 2021 Sarah underwent further testing in the form of CT scans, MRIs and PET scans to analyse her progress. She was given the good news that the cancer had shrunk in her rectum which came as a huge relief to her and her family however this was short lived. She was sadly advised by her doctors that the cancer had spread to her spine and her lungs, as well as lymph nodes in her pelvis. This news was absolutely crushing to everyone. The road ahead is long, difficult and unknown. Sarah is booked in for surgery on her back to remove tumors from her spine and will continue further aggressive treatments in the hopes to cure her from this devastating disease that is cancer. Sarah is FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE.

Its so difficult to explain the immense struggle in the hearts of this beautiful family who are praying every day that Sarah is here for the years ahead to to watch her kids grow up. Having known Sarah for 25 years it is absolutely heartbreaking seeing such a vibrant, kind, caring, generous, funny and loving human being facing such a battle.

Any generous donations received will go towards helping Sarah and her family during this tragic time. Funds will go towards medical expenses, an upcoming back operation, further treatments, and will help lighten the financial burden they are facing with the day to day costs of living. This will allow Sarah to focus on her treatments with the peace of mind that her bills will be paid and her family will be taken care of.

We realise the past 12-24 months have been difficult for everyone due to COVID, so if you are unable to donate financially we ask that you please send Sarah and her family your prayers, hope, love and strength. Thankyou.