After receiving the devastating diagnosis of Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease (PVOD), Mackay resident Diane and her husband Andrew (Max) have had their lives turned completely upside down.

PVOD is a rare and aggressive form of Pulmonary Hypertension caused by progressive blockage of the small veins in the lungs. As the veins become blocked, blood pressure in the lungs rises dangerously, leading to heart failure. The disease is progressive and fatal, with a median survival of around two years from diagnosis.

With time being of the essence, Diane must urgently relocate to Brisbane to progress through the pre-transplant stage and donor lungs and wait for suitable donor lungs to become available for the life-saving double lung transplant. Following the transplant, Diane and Max will need to remain in Brisbane for at least 2-3 months to allow for recovery an ongoing specialist care.

Since October 2025, Max has been Diane's full-time carer, using up all of his leave entitlements to provide round-the-clock care. He will need to continue in this role until approximately 3-4 months after Diane's transplant. This means that while facing unimaginable emotional stress, they are also facing the financial strain of going form two full-time incomes to none.

In addition to their ongoing mortgage and household bills in Mackay, they must now cover:

Temporary relocation and accommodation in Brisbane

Daily living expenses

Medical and transplant-related costs

Travel and associated expenses

It is estimated they will need $30,000 to help cover these expenses during this incredibly challenging time.

As you can imagine, this news has been an enormous shock. Diane & Max are a loving, hardworking couple who have always supported others in their community. Now , they need our help.

Please consider donating - no amount is too small. If you're unable to give financially, sharing their story would mean the world.

Let us come together and help this beautiful family navigate these heartbreaking times with one less burden to carry.