My mum is facing something no one should have to go through.

She has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a terminal illness that is slowly taking away her independence, her mobility, and her ability to do even the simplest things most of us take for granted. On top of this, she is legally blind. Despite everything she is facing, her one wish is simple — to remain in her home, surrounded by familiarity and comfort, for whatever time she has left.

Right now, that wish is at risk.

Mum only has the use of one hand. Her left hand has no mobility or dexterity due to MND, making everyday tasks incredibly difficult. Things like eating and taking medication are no longer simple — they are exhausting, emotional, and often overwhelming.

Eating has become one of the most distressing parts of her day. Mum experiences frequent choking episodes and cannot safely eat or take medication without someone there to help her. Every meal comes with fear.

Doctors have recommended a feeding tube (PEG), but the reality is heartbreaking — Mum cannot manage this on her own. She would need support to administer feeds, medications, and maintain the tube. Without the care and funding to support this, she feels she has no choice but to refuse it.

Without this support, she may soon be forced into palliative care simply because she cannot safely eat.

This is the reality we are facing: not just a terminal illness, but the possibility of losing time simply because we cannot access the level of care she desperately needs. Mum’s care has recently been cut in half, going from 20 hours of care a week down to 9 hours. This has been extremely distressing, as her care needs keep increasing.

Who is this fragile woman? This is Kay (my mum, my super hero), and this is a little bit about her life.

In her younger years, she was a singer and a dancer, performing gigs across Melbourne, bringing joy and energy to those around her. She raised two children on her own, showing strength, resilience, and unconditional love every single day. For over 20 years, she worked as a nanny, becoming part of many loving families and helping to guide their children through life. Caring for others has always been at the heart of who she is.

Beyond her work as a nanny, Mum spent over nine years volunteering for the homeless, working with Open Family alongside Father Bob. She has mentored and supported countless people through their toughest times and has become known to many as a guardian angel. Helping others has always been central to who she is, and she has touched the lives of so many people with her kindness and compassion.

She also devoted herself to caring for my grandma while she was unwell, supporting her right through to the end of her life at the age of 94. Because of Kay’s care, she was able to remain living independently in her own home until the day she passed. That was something my mum always believed in — helping people stay in the comfort and dignity of their own home for as long as possible.

We have explored aged care facilities, but they are not equipped to properly support someone living with both advanced MND and vision impairment. Moving her out of her home is not a viable option — and more importantly, it is not what she wants.

She wants to stay in her home.

She wants to feel safe.

She wants to hold onto her dignity for as long as possible.

My mum is my world. She is my best friend and I'm trying to give back to her for everything she has given me in my life. All I want is for her to be comfortable and to live her life the way she chooses, for as long as she can. I will do anything to make her wishes come true.

We are doing everything we can to fight for more government support, but the process is slow, and time is something my mum does not have.

That is why we are asking for help.

The funds raised will go directly towards in-home care — providing the support she needs for daily living, personal care, safe eating, and, hopefully, the ability to proceed with a feeding tube so she can maintain her strength and quality of life for as long as possible.

This is about giving my mum comfort.

This is about giving her dignity.

This is about giving her the chance to stay in the place she calls home.

Any support, no matter how small, means more than we can express.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for helping us give Kay the care and compassion she deserves in her final chapter.