Here's Hope: Mom's ongoing healing
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For the most recent update watch With Gratitude.
Mom always says that "human talents and human energy have the most transformative effect". And right now I'm holding onto all the hope in the world that this is true.
Mom needs help. In March 2018 she was given the title of cancer patient and had a tumor the size of a tennis ball removed from her gallbladder. They took out a 1/4 of her liver too, and we thought the worst was over.
But in the few months between then and now it came back, spreading to her liver and adrenal gland. Oncologists are straightforward in their approach... radiation isn't an option, and chemo will only offer a few extra months.
But there are other medical approaches that are seeing excellent results. Immunotherapy is an emerging mainstream medicine technique said to be the cancer treatment of the future. It boosts the body's natural defenses to fight cancer, using substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function. Because so many people are responding so well, there are trials being conducted all over the world to get this treatment out to cancer sufferers as quickly as possible.
We're doing everything we can to get Mom into a trial, but gallbladder cancer is apparently rare so there are not many places currently conducting Immunotherapy trials for it.
On 3rd October 2018 Mom was told by an Oncologist that at the rate the adrenal gland tumor is growing, it may well get the better of her before Christmas this year. I struggle to even allow myself to acknowledge this in my mind, and my heart just won't let it in, so writing this is incredibly difficult to do. It means that this horrible nightmare is actually true, and that without quick action, Mom is running out of time.
They say time is money, and right now that couldn't be more true. We're hoping to find a clinical trial, but without one the only option is to pay for the treatment, which costs R100 000 (South African Rand) ($9580 AUD) every 3 weeks, for 8 months. This amounts to R1 166 666 or $111 742 AUD. If we can raise the miracle amount, then the remaining $8258 will go towards transport and accommodation costs as the treatment clinic is in Johannesburg and my parents will have to get there from Port Elizabeth.
I know I'm asking for a lot, I'm asking for the world right now, but when someone you love is doing everything they can to recover and heal, when every day they are looking the fear of death in the face, with a hopeful smile and determination to move mountains, what else can I do? Mom gave me life, I need to know that I am doing my absolute best to give it back to her.
So here is my hope - that we'll have Mom at Christmas and many years after. But we need help fast, so right now I'm putting all my hope into humanity, unseen heroes, and complete strangers, who understand that unfortunately we're in a situation where time really is money.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity, you're changing lives. And if you know of any oncologist or researcher, anyone or anything you think may be able to help in any way, please please share it with us. You never know if you may be holding the key to saving Mom's life. Thank you.
Mom always says that "human talents and human energy have the most transformative effect". And right now I'm holding onto all the hope in the world that this is true.
Mom needs help. In March 2018 she was given the title of cancer patient and had a tumor the size of a tennis ball removed from her gallbladder. They took out a 1/4 of her liver too, and we thought the worst was over.
But in the few months between then and now it came back, spreading to her liver and adrenal gland. Oncologists are straightforward in their approach... radiation isn't an option, and chemo will only offer a few extra months.
But there are other medical approaches that are seeing excellent results. Immunotherapy is an emerging mainstream medicine technique said to be the cancer treatment of the future. It boosts the body's natural defenses to fight cancer, using substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function. Because so many people are responding so well, there are trials being conducted all over the world to get this treatment out to cancer sufferers as quickly as possible.
We're doing everything we can to get Mom into a trial, but gallbladder cancer is apparently rare so there are not many places currently conducting Immunotherapy trials for it.
On 3rd October 2018 Mom was told by an Oncologist that at the rate the adrenal gland tumor is growing, it may well get the better of her before Christmas this year. I struggle to even allow myself to acknowledge this in my mind, and my heart just won't let it in, so writing this is incredibly difficult to do. It means that this horrible nightmare is actually true, and that without quick action, Mom is running out of time.
They say time is money, and right now that couldn't be more true. We're hoping to find a clinical trial, but without one the only option is to pay for the treatment, which costs R100 000 (South African Rand) ($9580 AUD) every 3 weeks, for 8 months. This amounts to R1 166 666 or $111 742 AUD. If we can raise the miracle amount, then the remaining $8258 will go towards transport and accommodation costs as the treatment clinic is in Johannesburg and my parents will have to get there from Port Elizabeth.
I know I'm asking for a lot, I'm asking for the world right now, but when someone you love is doing everything they can to recover and heal, when every day they are looking the fear of death in the face, with a hopeful smile and determination to move mountains, what else can I do? Mom gave me life, I need to know that I am doing my absolute best to give it back to her.
So here is my hope - that we'll have Mom at Christmas and many years after. But we need help fast, so right now I'm putting all my hope into humanity, unseen heroes, and complete strangers, who understand that unfortunately we're in a situation where time really is money.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity, you're changing lives. And if you know of any oncologist or researcher, anyone or anything you think may be able to help in any way, please please share it with us. You never know if you may be holding the key to saving Mom's life. Thank you.
Organizer
Caitlin Murphy
Organizer
Burleigh Waters QLD
