Living for my kids: Bangkok single mother fighting cancer

My name is Ploy I’m a 40-year-old single mother with two boys living in Bangkok.

Four months ago my life was flipped upside down - doctors found a tumour in my sinus and eventually  diagnosed aggressive  b-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The staging is low - I am grateful for that - and I have started chemo with support of my two teenage boys, close family...  and my dogs!

I’ve lost my hair and weight and the chemo is really tough some days. But I’m still working (I am a documentary maker), jogging and doing yoga on the days I feel ok and doing everything I can to win this fight.


But I need  help. My cancer is aggressive so I had to be treated immediately. The only ‘affordable’ option was a public-private cancer clinic. But with two kids and limited income from work during the pandemic I’ve spent all my savings on treatment already. 

For example, each biopsy/ lab result  (I have had three) costs over $3k, one PET scan is nearly $2k and every round of chemo costs $2.5k ( I am due to have 6 rounds). Radiotherapy will come after the chemo finishes and that’s more expensive and on top of that dental care because of where the cancer is, taxis to the hospital, medicines, a new diet to try to keep my weight up ... the costs just keep piling on. 

It feels like being in tumble dryer of appointments, tests and horrible, terrifying waits for results - looking at my kids and giving promises and hopes when I don’t know the answers - all the time trying to stay positive. I feel grief with no time to grieve and have to find strength when my body is cracking. 

But I have my boys, my family,  friends and my work. (I have just finished a documentary on Modern Slavery which helped me focus on my passion instead of the chemo. )

I am lucky to have a lot of love around me and I know can fight this and get better. 

I've just turned 40. But I am not going to let this be my last birthday. I need to be there for my kids. I have too much to live for.

***Note
This fundraiser is being organised by Aidan Jones. I'm a close friend of Ploy's and am happy to help out while she recovers from her treatment. I will withdraw the donated  funds in my name and pay the hospital bills directly.