Supporting Kerri & Michael
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https://www.facebook.com/Love-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-463625620503610/?fref=ts
My name is Michelle Williams and I am trying to raise money to help one of my oldest friends Kerri Thomas, her husband Michael and their young children. Their life story has changed and they are in a situation that is not only heartbreaking but forever life changing.
Kerri and Michael have been together since they were teenagers and share a bond that can withstand any hardship. They have two young children, a gorgeous little girl who is 8 years old and a beautiful little boy who is 12 years old and has his own battles- he has autism and does not attend mainstream schooling. Kerri and Michael have gone without in order to make sure they provide everything they can for their children.
When Michael decided to return to study last year to pursue his dream of studying engineering, Kerri started experiencing symptoms that scared them both. They were shocked and terrified to discover that the symptoms were as a result of Multiple Sclerosis and although this diagnosis was frightening and life changing for them all it was only the beginning of the tragedy that was about to overwhelm and devastate them. Kerri and Michael’s hopes and dreams for their family were going to be shattered their lives forever changed and there was nothing they could do to protect themselves or their family from the harsh reality that was beginning to unfold.
On the 22nd of December Michael underwent an endoscopy/gastroscopy as he was having digestive troubles, he couldn’t swallow his food properly without feeling uncomfortable. Leading up to this procedure Michael thought he was suffering from indigestion issues but was worried by the fact that he had lost twenty kilos in a short space of time. The findings were horrendous - Michael and Kerri were informed that Michael had stage iv stomach cancer and it was inoperable.
Although inoperable they had hoped the chemo scheduled for April this year would shrink the tumour however Michael has deteriorated rapidly since December. The large tumour in his stomach blocked a bile duct causing him to become jaundice and ill – they have recently operated to alleviate this.
Unfortunately Chemo will not be happening and hopes have been squashed. Two nights ago Kerri rang me to tell me he has days or weeks left. The cancer has spread to the lining of his brain. This has resulted in him being confused and will result in him falling into a coma in the very near future and then he will pass away.
Kerri in the meantime will be left to battle on her own. She is already battling. She has no sick leave, no annual leave, no finances to fall back on, sadly of all two children who are grieving and don’t understand why their dad will die. She is at the hospital 24/7 spending as much time as she can with the man who has been by her side for almost thirty years. Supporting her, loving her and being the father and the husband that many men dream of being and many women dream of having. Brave courageous, kind and caring I wish I could paint the picture that I want you to see. We can’t change what the cancer has planned but I don’t want my friend to have the additional pain that financial hardship brings. She has had her share of pain.
Please donate what you can to help my friends. I will be forever grateful to you for anything you can offer. Hold the ones you love tight and speak kind words to all.
Yours faithfully
Michelle Williams.
My name is Michelle Williams and I am trying to raise money to help one of my oldest friends Kerri Thomas, her husband Michael and their young children. Their life story has changed and they are in a situation that is not only heartbreaking but forever life changing.Kerri and Michael have been together since they were teenagers and share a bond that can withstand any hardship. They have two young children, a gorgeous little girl who is 8 years old and a beautiful little boy who is 12 years old and has his own battles- he has autism and does not attend mainstream schooling. Kerri and Michael have gone without in order to make sure they provide everything they can for their children.
When Michael decided to return to study last year to pursue his dream of studying engineering, Kerri started experiencing symptoms that scared them both. They were shocked and terrified to discover that the symptoms were as a result of Multiple Sclerosis and although this diagnosis was frightening and life changing for them all it was only the beginning of the tragedy that was about to overwhelm and devastate them. Kerri and Michael’s hopes and dreams for their family were going to be shattered their lives forever changed and there was nothing they could do to protect themselves or their family from the harsh reality that was beginning to unfold.
On the 22nd of December Michael underwent an endoscopy/gastroscopy as he was having digestive troubles, he couldn’t swallow his food properly without feeling uncomfortable. Leading up to this procedure Michael thought he was suffering from indigestion issues but was worried by the fact that he had lost twenty kilos in a short space of time. The findings were horrendous - Michael and Kerri were informed that Michael had stage iv stomach cancer and it was inoperable.
Although inoperable they had hoped the chemo scheduled for April this year would shrink the tumour however Michael has deteriorated rapidly since December. The large tumour in his stomach blocked a bile duct causing him to become jaundice and ill – they have recently operated to alleviate this.
Unfortunately Chemo will not be happening and hopes have been squashed. Two nights ago Kerri rang me to tell me he has days or weeks left. The cancer has spread to the lining of his brain. This has resulted in him being confused and will result in him falling into a coma in the very near future and then he will pass away.
Kerri in the meantime will be left to battle on her own. She is already battling. She has no sick leave, no annual leave, no finances to fall back on, sadly of all two children who are grieving and don’t understand why their dad will die. She is at the hospital 24/7 spending as much time as she can with the man who has been by her side for almost thirty years. Supporting her, loving her and being the father and the husband that many men dream of being and many women dream of having. Brave courageous, kind and caring I wish I could paint the picture that I want you to see. We can’t change what the cancer has planned but I don’t want my friend to have the additional pain that financial hardship brings. She has had her share of pain.
Please donate what you can to help my friends. I will be forever grateful to you for anything you can offer. Hold the ones you love tight and speak kind words to all.
Yours faithfully
Michelle Williams.
Organizer
Michelle Williams
Organizer
Banyule VIC
