Support Sav's Cancer Fight
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My name is Savanna Griechen and I’m 32 years old.
8 weeks ago I was living a normal and happy life as a Music and Drama teacher in Melbourne after having just come back from 6 months off.
Around the 9th-13th August I start experiencing some mild stomach cramps followed by consistent back pain radiating where my kidneys were. After trips to my GP and the emergency room I still didn’t have many answers. I was told to go to the gym and that it was just anxiety. Deep down however I knew there was something seriously wrong.
I went to emergency again and what followed was an agonizing week of waiting for my diagnosis. I was told repeatedly that I most likely had lymphoma as my age and gender meant I would not be stomach cancer.
Despite the doctors telling me, deep down I knew it was my stomach.
On September 5th I was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer. The Oncologist and Gastro Specialist were absolutely baffled as this is so rare for someone my age and gender.
I spent one day planning my funeral and then the next day I thought “Fuck This!” I refuse to be a statistic, particularly when the median age for this disease is 68.
So I put up a video and had so many people from around the world contact me with suggestions and treatment methods. I’ve even been speaking to other survivors, including a man in Canada who was diagnosed and beat the disease in 2011 and another man who is now my mentor and is 15 months into his treatment.
An angel came into my life at this point through my dear friend Sean who works in clinical trials. His name is Dr Andrew Dean and he is one of the top specialists in how to beat gastric cancer. I’m lucky that I’m from Western Australia as we have the highest survival rate in the world. He put me immediately on tailored chemo and this special drug that has been a breakthrough for my cancer. It is called Pemrbolizumab. It is not available in the public system so we have gone private.
Unfortunately for the first year of my treatment this drug will cost $65,000 Australian dollars. After that it will be subsidised by HBF.
We're looking for just over 3000 generous individuals to donate $20 or more to my treatment through this GoFund me. We know you're out there and really appreciate your support in my time of need!
To anyone reading this I highly recommend getting private health insurance. There is only so much you will get offered in regards to treatment in the public system.
Interestingly with my stomach cancer there is a stomach bacterium called helicobacter pylori that can contribute to growing ulcers and tumours. Most people have pylori in their bodies with little to no symptoms. After you read this do me a favour: go to your GP and get a stool sample done to see if you have it. It is highly contiguous and can spread through kissing and body contact. Kill it as fast as you can.
The last piece of advice I have is to listen to your body. I knew there was something wrong with me from day one of my symptoms. You know your body; it will tell you when it needs help.
When I beat this cancer, I want to help and mentor other young people who receive such a shocking and rare diagnosis. I also want to keep singing as music has and always will be my great passion in life.
So if you are reading this and you want to help save my life please donate to my Go Fund Me page. I only need money for the first year of treatment and then with any luck I will be well on my way to killing Mad Mass (that is my tumours name) I want him to be a sad mass and then a dead mass as soon as my body kicks his ass.
Thank you for all your support and please donate,
Love Sassy Savanna, living with cancer one day at time x
Beneficiary note: Rhonda Griechen (Sav's Mum) has been named the beneficiary of the campaign for the purposes of receiving funds and processing treatment cost payments. Any questions related to the disbursement of funds on behalf of Savanna can be directed to Shaun Evans ([email redacted]).
Everyone is truly thankful for the outpouring of generosity and positivity as we all work to finding a successful treatment for Sav. Thanks to you all!!
8 weeks ago I was living a normal and happy life as a Music and Drama teacher in Melbourne after having just come back from 6 months off.
Around the 9th-13th August I start experiencing some mild stomach cramps followed by consistent back pain radiating where my kidneys were. After trips to my GP and the emergency room I still didn’t have many answers. I was told to go to the gym and that it was just anxiety. Deep down however I knew there was something seriously wrong.
I went to emergency again and what followed was an agonizing week of waiting for my diagnosis. I was told repeatedly that I most likely had lymphoma as my age and gender meant I would not be stomach cancer.
Despite the doctors telling me, deep down I knew it was my stomach.
On September 5th I was diagnosed with Stage IV gastric cancer. The Oncologist and Gastro Specialist were absolutely baffled as this is so rare for someone my age and gender.
I spent one day planning my funeral and then the next day I thought “Fuck This!” I refuse to be a statistic, particularly when the median age for this disease is 68.
So I put up a video and had so many people from around the world contact me with suggestions and treatment methods. I’ve even been speaking to other survivors, including a man in Canada who was diagnosed and beat the disease in 2011 and another man who is now my mentor and is 15 months into his treatment.
An angel came into my life at this point through my dear friend Sean who works in clinical trials. His name is Dr Andrew Dean and he is one of the top specialists in how to beat gastric cancer. I’m lucky that I’m from Western Australia as we have the highest survival rate in the world. He put me immediately on tailored chemo and this special drug that has been a breakthrough for my cancer. It is called Pemrbolizumab. It is not available in the public system so we have gone private.
Unfortunately for the first year of my treatment this drug will cost $65,000 Australian dollars. After that it will be subsidised by HBF.
We're looking for just over 3000 generous individuals to donate $20 or more to my treatment through this GoFund me. We know you're out there and really appreciate your support in my time of need!
To anyone reading this I highly recommend getting private health insurance. There is only so much you will get offered in regards to treatment in the public system.
Interestingly with my stomach cancer there is a stomach bacterium called helicobacter pylori that can contribute to growing ulcers and tumours. Most people have pylori in their bodies with little to no symptoms. After you read this do me a favour: go to your GP and get a stool sample done to see if you have it. It is highly contiguous and can spread through kissing and body contact. Kill it as fast as you can.
The last piece of advice I have is to listen to your body. I knew there was something wrong with me from day one of my symptoms. You know your body; it will tell you when it needs help.
When I beat this cancer, I want to help and mentor other young people who receive such a shocking and rare diagnosis. I also want to keep singing as music has and always will be my great passion in life.
So if you are reading this and you want to help save my life please donate to my Go Fund Me page. I only need money for the first year of treatment and then with any luck I will be well on my way to killing Mad Mass (that is my tumours name) I want him to be a sad mass and then a dead mass as soon as my body kicks his ass.
Thank you for all your support and please donate,
Love Sassy Savanna, living with cancer one day at time x
Beneficiary note: Rhonda Griechen (Sav's Mum) has been named the beneficiary of the campaign for the purposes of receiving funds and processing treatment cost payments. Any questions related to the disbursement of funds on behalf of Savanna can be directed to Shaun Evans ([email redacted]).
Everyone is truly thankful for the outpouring of generosity and positivity as we all work to finding a successful treatment for Sav. Thanks to you all!!
Organizer and beneficiary
Shaun Evans
Organizer
Falcon WA
Rhonda Griechen
Beneficiary
