Supporting Shirley's Breast Cancer Journey

My mother, Shirley, has never known how to put herself first. In 1996, this selfless mother brought my sister, Kelly and myself, Jenna, on her own, to the other side of the world, to try her best to give us a better life, the life she felt we deserved.

Struggling with the challenges of single-parent life, supporting my sister with Phenylketonuria, a rare metabolic disorder and myself with disrupting anxiety and trauma, she forgot all parts of herself and lived her life for us girls. She spent more money than she earned and more time than she had spare to support us unconditionally.

I receive a phone call from mum:

“Darling, please promise me you won’t worry. I have had a scan and I wasn’t going to tell you or Kelly, but I can’t lie. Darling, I have found a large lump in my left breast and the doctors are concerned. Don’t be scared, I’m sure it’s nothing, but the doctors have insisted everything be fast-tracked and my results will be available this Friday.”

I pack my things and drive the 7 hours to mum, to hold her hand through this terrifying and sudden experience. I had no idea the emotional, financial and physical stress we would endure.

The diagnosis:

“Ms. Barnsley, you have a very aggressive, rarer form of Breast Cancer. This cancer is proliferating, and we cannot operate on it in its current state. You will need numerous types of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and two types of specialised HER2 treatments that are not financially supported by our pharmaceutical government schemes BUT Ms. Barnsley, it is crucial that you have these HER2 treatments, for your success.”

He continues, “These are very intensive and invasive treatments due to the aggression of your cancer and you will become very sick. You will be exhausted constantly. You won’t be fit to work or to perform your general duties.”... In other words, your world is coming to a complete stop, until you are healed.

Mum, completely shocked and speechless, now has to digest appointment after appointment with specialists, barely able to remember any information she is told, due to the shock of it all.

Where to now:

My partner and I immediately moved back to my hometown, to be close to mum and support her as best we can. Trying to work extensive hours to financially support mum with the treatment and ongoing costs of the health and well-being of a cancer journey. One single day of treatment, costing $6000. We are physically and mentally exhausted, but we know we feel nothing in comparison to the constant pain mum is in, so this is where we ask you for help. As our community, of pure-hearted and caring people, please help us financially support mum through this journey.

My mum, Shirley, now needs to learn to put herself first. To allow others to care for her and put herself as number one. Even to this very day, we, her children, still have to remind her to stop worrying about us and entirely focus on her healing. She constantly feels guilty for the extra workload we are choosing to partake in to try and support her, and I just know how grateful she would be, as well as us, if you could help support this journey and gift a little slice of support our way.

For all the time you have spent reading this, and any donation you may be able to spare, we would like to thank you wholeheartedly and send love and gratitude back to you. It truly means so much to us and it will not be forgotten.

Lastly, please help us share my mum, Shirley’s story far and wide so she can receive the support she deserves. She would give the shirt off her back to any, and so I am sincerely hoping that for this time that she is in need, we collectively can project back to her the care she so freely gives.

May you continue to be blessed with pure light and hope.

Yours truly,

Jenna Barnsley