Hi everyone.

I wanted to make this post on behalf of my Mum and Dad. It’s taken us a long time to come to this decision, as we not the type of people to ask for help.

A long story short, in May this year, after 5 trips to the ER with crippling back pain, mum was finally diagnosed with an extremely rare cancerous tumour in her spinal cord. Astrocytoma Glioma. So rare that there are barely any study’s and information so they are not entirely sure how to treat her ongoing. Unfortunately surgery is not possible.

This tumours side effects grew rapidly and after 1 week of hospitalisation she lost all feeling and control from the waist down. She can no longer walk, she was bed bound for weeks on end after complications from an initial surgery. After 30 rounds of the maximum dosage of radiation, between Sydney and Gosford hospitals, she has since been moved to a rehab centre 30 minutes away from our family home, learning how to use a wheelchair in every day life. There is no knowing if radiation has shrunk mums tumour due to the amount of swelling in her spine. The hope is that with the radiation and treatment of chemotherapy tablets, her tumour will shrink. But doctors cannot confirm if shrinking the tumour will mean she will regain her feeling in her legs or if it will ever eventually spread.

Our goal is to get mum home, and we need to do major home modifications to get her there. Unfortunately in this economy with bills, the cost of living, medical expenses, with my mum not being able to work and dad being self employed with 3 kids, a mortgage and Christmas around the corner it’s it’s been difficult. I just want to be able to make it easier for my family as much as possible. With my 2 younger siblings (12 and 18), we want them to live life as normal as possible.

So greatful for everyone that has already reached out. If anyone knows my mum, they know she’s the most amazing mum, partner, daughter, sister and friend. Please share this if you can.