Jessica’s acute myeloid leukaemia marathon

Hello I’m setting up this go fund me to help out this beautiful family of four. Jessica a Mum to Abigail age 5 and Hamish age 1 and wife to Mitch. Jessica was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) August 15th 2022.

A trip to the GP 5 months postpartum for severe fatigue and unable to walk more than 200m without stopping 3 or 4 times. Investigation blood tests leading to a phone call that changed their lives forever. Jessica rushed straight to the emergency department for immediate transfusions and hospital admission. A whirlwind happened, flown straight from Mackay to Townsville hospital. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy confirming the diagnosis AML.

This diagnosis meant Jessica had to move from her home in Mackay to Brisbane for treatment. Hamish only 5 months old accompanied Jessica to Brisbane, Abigail and Mitch remained in Mackay. Mitch working hard to support the family financially. Devastating to be separated, 970km between them. Technology connecting them but certainly is no substitute for the space between them. Something no mother wants to go through.

The treating team of clinicians said they need to hit it hard and fast. They had to get genetic testing done on the cells which had to go to Germany and it took weeks to come back. What did come back was not good, the only chance at survival was to have a bone marrow stem cell transplant.

The first round of induction Chemo did not work, it was devastating, the leukaemia was worse.

The second round even stronger than the first, did not work either. “Was I ever going to get into remission? I am going to survive this? Will I see my babies grow up?

The third type of chemo was different, I had a different mind set, this has to work, it’s going to melt it away! It worked I cried and cried, finally I’m in a leukaemia free state”.

The next big thing was finding a donor. Both siblings where not a match. Leading to the donor registry in Australia. The matches were limited and not a 10/10 match.

Drs then had to look overseas. There was one match. Out of millions and millions of people only one matched.

There were a lot of set backs with the donor, it was difficult to coordinate.

25th-30th August Jessica had 2 days chemotherapy and 3 days total body irradiation.

March 31st 2023 was the day of the Transplant cells. “The day I was reborn”.

A brand new immune system, as fragile as a newborn baby, no immunity to any viruses or diseases. All childhood vaccines wiped.

Now counting down the 100 days post transplant to go home, looking at returning to Mackay very soon. Reuniting a family. A light that’s starting to shine at the end of the tunnel.

“The hardest part has been being away from Mitch and Abigail. I had to come down to RBWH for the stem cell transplant as they do not do unrelated doner transplants in Townsville.

Mitch has been the rock through this and it has not been easy. He has had to continue to work and keep our home life going while myself and Hamish have been in Brisbane getting the treatment I need to come home and live our lives again”.

Chemotherapy and radiation rounds have such a huge effect not only physically but emotionally and financially.

Jessica recently recovering from graft verses host disease, A condition that occurs when donor bone marrow or stem cells attack the recipient.

Jessica unable to work, family traveling to visit and this treatment process has put a huge stress on the family unit.

Not ones to ask for help we are setting up this page to help where we can. Any donation, however small, you feel you are able to make would be so appreciated and make a real difference to this family. This will help reduce the financial stresses and help support and allow space for this family on their road to reuniting and rebuilding their lives.