As many of you know, our dear friend Renee is about to begin the most challenging chapter of her health journey yet. To access the life-saving care she needs, Renee will soon leave her husband, Brad, and their four children in Mildura to undergo 33 sessions of radiation treatment in Melbourne.

This is a battle Renee has fought before. After facing cancer three years ago, she is now dealing with a rare head and neck cancer. This news is a heavy blow for a young family who have already given so much to the recovery process. Furthermore, Renee carries the profound emotional weight of having lost both of her parents to cancer. We want to ensure she feels held by a community that refuses to let her face this history or this recurrence alone.

Managing Complex Care at Home

Adding to the family’s daily challenges, Renee and Brad’s youngest daughter, Brigitte, lives with Type 1 Diabetes. Managing T1D in a toddler involves constant monitoring and high-stakes medical complexity.

With Renee in Melbourne and Brad solo-parenting while working, the need for stability is paramount. Part of this fund will go toward ensuring Brigitte can access consistent daycare. This provides her with a vital routine and, most importantly, puts her in the care of medically trained educators who can manage her T1D needs during the day. This support will provide Renee with the peace of mind she needs to focus on her own survival, knowing her youngest is safe and stable.

Renee’s work

Renee is also a dedicated nurse. This’ a role that brings her great purpose and is a significant part of her weekly life and income. During treatment, she will need to step away from nursing, something she loves deeply, while also losing her ability to earn during this period. This is another layer of pressure the family is navigating alongside treatment.

A Collaborative Circle of Care

Because Renee’s friends and loved ones are geographically spread across many different areas, providing traditional “hands-on” support is a challenge. Our goal is to create a coordinated, collaborative circle of care. By centralizing our efforts through this fund, we can provide the high-level support Renee needs from afar, bridging the distance between us all and the family home in Mildura.

Where Your Heartfelt Donations Go

We are asking for any contribution you have the capacity for. Every dollar reduces the immense mental and physical load on Renee and Brad.

While Renee is in treatment (6.5 weeks):

• Specialized Support for Brigitte: Assisting with the costs of daycare to ensure Brigitte has a medically safe, routine-filled environment while Brad is working and keeping the family at home afloat.

• Nutritionally Dense Meals: Fresh, premade meals for Renee in Melbourne to ensure she stays nourished when she is too fatigued to cook.

• Safe Daily Transport: Uber credits for her daily trips to the hospital, sparing her the exhaustion of public transport.

• Support for the Kids: Weekly grocery deliveries to the family home in Mildura.

• Maintaining the Home: A regular cleaner in Mildura to help Brad manage a household of four children and the complexities of T1D management.

Through the Recovery Phase:

The journey doesn’t end with the final treatment. We want to continue food and cleaning support for several weeks once Renee returns, giving her the grace to recover in a peaceful, supported environment.

Every Bit Counts

Renee is always the first to step up for others; now, it’s our turn to carry her. If you aren’t in a position to donate, a simple share of this page is an incredible way to help.

Thank you for your kindness, your prayers, and for showing this family that they are not walking this long road alone.

Love Kate and Kirby