Mother of 6 fights cancer.
Donation protected
I am writing on behalf of my beautiful mother, Elaine Thatcher. Her story is one that most wouldn't believe. Her resilience and loving motherly nature is outstanding. Raising 6 children (Francis 42, Recbecca, 33, Katie 32, Billy 26, Georgia 24, Matilda (myself) 20) is no easy feat, butgiven the circumstances in which she did so has people asking "how does she do it?".
Elaine's caring nature has extended past her children and onto her work, where she attained a certificate 4 in disability, she wakes up at 4.30 am and drives 45 minutes to work where she cares for the disabled.
In November 2017, Elaine was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer,with a cancerous tumour was also found wrapped around her bowel. this diagnoses has left her unable to work.
Although this is a battle that thousands of brave women face everyday, Elaines living conditions have made her fight extremely difficult. Mum and dad (Bill) purchased a 25 acer property in remote Colo Heights in 1991.
This property is off the power grid by 2kms, meaning the humble tin shed we call home has no electricity, running hot water or proper plumbing, giving the true blue Aussie experience of an outhouse, bucket baths and stories by candle light.
When we were children, mum and dad did their best to make sure we never went without, they did everything normal parents would do. At night we would light all the candles in the house and eat dinner by the fire place as dad read The Lord of The Rings to us.
Now, as an adult, my heart is so full of love and appreciation for them as Iv'e grown to realise just how hard it would of been to raise all 6 of us without proper amenities.
Everyday simple tasks are turned into the gauntlet, such as bucketing heavy water into a copper, which slowly heats up water for baths and washing up. Mum would have to hand wash over 20 school uniforms each week, due to the lack of a washing machine/electricity.
Although the house is built with love, it has some major structual issues, with some holes in the external walls and no insulation, the house has no real protection from cold or heat, with temperatures in summer climbing to 45 degrees inside. The veranda is also collapsing and the roof has multiple leaks.
Now in 2017, the children have all grown up and made lives for themselves, producing 7 beautiful grandchildren so far, (Callum, Angus, Matilda, Luke, Seth, Marcus and Rosie) while mum and dad have potted along with their quiet life of a labour of love in the bush. They have now purchased a generator that can run lights, TV and the washing machine (although the water still has to be bucketed in by hand due to the lack of a water pump).
Although this colonial way of life was a nourishing and beautiful environment to grow up in and I would never change it for the world, mum and dad (who is recovering from a broken wrist and has recently been laid off from work) are now in their 60's and struggle with basic everyday life. It breaks my heart to visit them only to return to my own house with a shower, flushing toilet and electricity knowing that they are still going without.
Although the property does not have much realestate value, the sentimental value is priceless and has made the home hard to part with.
Mum and dad don't know that I've created this page, as I think they are very proud people and are not used to accepting help. While we have banded together as a family to try and help with fixing the house and paying some bills, it has proven difficult on our own.
Mums chemotherapy is ongoing, and a full hysterectomy is to follow. As a child I would imagine mum coming home from work and us surprising her with a new house, now with platforms like gofundme, this dream has the potential to become a reality. I would love for mum to come home from hospital to a comfortable and functional house, because anyone who has met her or visited our house knows she deserves it.
Any donation would be appreciated beyond words and would help with:
- hospital bills
- travel costs
- installing a hot water system
- fixing plumbing for a shower and indoor toilet
- insulation
- new generator/solar power
Elaine's caring nature has extended past her children and onto her work, where she attained a certificate 4 in disability, she wakes up at 4.30 am and drives 45 minutes to work where she cares for the disabled.
In November 2017, Elaine was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer,with a cancerous tumour was also found wrapped around her bowel. this diagnoses has left her unable to work.
Although this is a battle that thousands of brave women face everyday, Elaines living conditions have made her fight extremely difficult. Mum and dad (Bill) purchased a 25 acer property in remote Colo Heights in 1991.
This property is off the power grid by 2kms, meaning the humble tin shed we call home has no electricity, running hot water or proper plumbing, giving the true blue Aussie experience of an outhouse, bucket baths and stories by candle light.
When we were children, mum and dad did their best to make sure we never went without, they did everything normal parents would do. At night we would light all the candles in the house and eat dinner by the fire place as dad read The Lord of The Rings to us.
Now, as an adult, my heart is so full of love and appreciation for them as Iv'e grown to realise just how hard it would of been to raise all 6 of us without proper amenities.
Everyday simple tasks are turned into the gauntlet, such as bucketing heavy water into a copper, which slowly heats up water for baths and washing up. Mum would have to hand wash over 20 school uniforms each week, due to the lack of a washing machine/electricity.
Although the house is built with love, it has some major structual issues, with some holes in the external walls and no insulation, the house has no real protection from cold or heat, with temperatures in summer climbing to 45 degrees inside. The veranda is also collapsing and the roof has multiple leaks.
Now in 2017, the children have all grown up and made lives for themselves, producing 7 beautiful grandchildren so far, (Callum, Angus, Matilda, Luke, Seth, Marcus and Rosie) while mum and dad have potted along with their quiet life of a labour of love in the bush. They have now purchased a generator that can run lights, TV and the washing machine (although the water still has to be bucketed in by hand due to the lack of a water pump).
Although this colonial way of life was a nourishing and beautiful environment to grow up in and I would never change it for the world, mum and dad (who is recovering from a broken wrist and has recently been laid off from work) are now in their 60's and struggle with basic everyday life. It breaks my heart to visit them only to return to my own house with a shower, flushing toilet and electricity knowing that they are still going without.
Although the property does not have much realestate value, the sentimental value is priceless and has made the home hard to part with.
Mum and dad don't know that I've created this page, as I think they are very proud people and are not used to accepting help. While we have banded together as a family to try and help with fixing the house and paying some bills, it has proven difficult on our own.
Mums chemotherapy is ongoing, and a full hysterectomy is to follow. As a child I would imagine mum coming home from work and us surprising her with a new house, now with platforms like gofundme, this dream has the potential to become a reality. I would love for mum to come home from hospital to a comfortable and functional house, because anyone who has met her or visited our house knows she deserves it.
Any donation would be appreciated beyond words and would help with:
- hospital bills
- travel costs
- installing a hot water system
- fixing plumbing for a shower and indoor toilet
- insulation
- new generator/solar power
Organizer
Matilda Morris
Organizer
Mellong NSW
