Support Jessica Catlow With Her Medical Expenses

Here we have a beautiful young woman, Jessica Catlow, who is just 29 years old and needs our help!

Those lucky enough to know Jess as a friend or work colleague will know just how important her life is to us.

This Young woman has a high on life personality and will go out of her way to try and help people in need, so it's time for us to return the favour.

This fundraiser is to help Jess with medical expenses for treatment and surgery that she urgently needs to ensure she has the best fighting chance of survival.

Below is Jessica’s story so far, it really puts into perspective what this beautiful young woman has already been through in her life, much more than any of us could ever imagine.

Please read Jessica’s story.

“In November 2020 - I had some checkups done and got rushed to have surgery I had to pay for at Hollywood hospital with doctors thinking I had Endometriosis, they biopsied what they'd removed & I heard nothing back so assumed everything was fine

Feb 2021 - I got an urgent appointment at King Edward Memorial Hospital Oncology, The liaising nurse thought I was already aware and proceeded to tell me I had been diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer from the biopsies they received in Dec

March 2021- I spoke with the fertility clinic about egg collection due to having to have a hysterectomy. After a heartbreaking conversation for me to receive IVF treatment for the preservation of eggs, the hormones I would need to take for this would probably kill me. My biggest dreams of being a mother and having a family were instantly thrown out the window.

15 May 2021 - This was my big day. I got my hysterectomy done and all cancer out; soon after, I spoke with doctors who told me I was actually stage 3A; it was in my appendix, lymph nodes, omentum, bowel and bladder but they were confident they had removed it all. I was off work for 4months recovering from this surgery.

My mental health had suffered chronically whilst going through the most challenging time in my life, my family in NZ whilst we were going through Covid this was one of the most challenging times in my life.

Sept 2021 - I got the all clear all my tumour marker levels were normal, I was on the road to being myself again and getting my life back on track

May 2022 - I went for a yearly check-up to see how I was going, keeping in mind I felt fine.

My CA19-9 levels were up, I went for a PET scan and a Gastroscopy where they did biopsies and found out a few weeks later I had stage 1 stomach cancer.

I started Oral chemotherapy at the beginning of June, taking lots of time off work and still having all the medical expenses I struggled and was so grateful for good friends and support whilst my mental health really suffered trying to wrap my head around things, losing my hair was one thing, loosing friends was another.

I am now waiting on an appointment at Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital 22/11 for a biopsy on my chest lymph nodes as they think I may have metastatic disease or/and lymphoproliferation disorder.

I am meant to be starting IV chemo next month, which I have currently declined due to not being able to work whilst receiving treatment for me to have the surgery I need right now will cost me $27,000 - This will remove my tumour which is currently taking up 70% of my stomach, my health insurance has deemed this to be a pre-existing condition and have declined to pay. I am now on the public waiting list but because it is only stage 1 it isn't a priority to them unless I become stage 2 so I could be waiting until May/June next Year. “

With what this powerful spirited woman has already endured and the road she still has in front of her I ask you all to reach inside your hearts and give a little, give a lot of financial support to help get Jess the treatment she needs.