Leanne's Fight for Survival
Donation protected
Hi, I’m Leanne, I am 32, a wife to my incredible husband, Shayne, and mother to our wonderful 3-year-old daughter, Jessica.
In March 2015 our world fell apart. With my then 17-month-old daughter in my arms I was told, “there is a complex, ill-defined mass in your upper abdomen and innumerable nodules on your lungs. We can’t be sure but it looks like cancer.” Holding my little girl in my arms I felt the world crumble around me, I held Jessica close and tried to infuse her with a lifetime of love, something I have endeavoured to do multiple times a day since then.
After a lengthy series of biopsies and tests it was finally confirmed that I had Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer with metastases in my lungs. There is no cure. Less than 7% of people diagnosed with stage of pancreatic cancer survive for 5 years. At the age of 30 my life expectancy was measured in months, not years. I was unlikely to see my daughter turn two.
I was treated with palliative chemotherapy, aiming to gain a few extra precious months and reduce the pain. I was forced to give up work, unable to cope with the side effects of the chemotherapy while working. We began to face enormous financial pressure due to my inability to work and the additional costs brought about by my medical needs.
Now, after over 100 infusions of chemotherapy and nearly two years later, years that I have valued beyond all measure, the chemotherapy has stopped working, the cancer is becoming resistant and is fighting back.
Over the last 2 years I have focussed on filling Jessica’s heart with a lifetime of Mummy’s love, but of course, it is never enough. As a family we have tried to make as many happy memories as possible on a very tight budget. I know that I am lucky to have had this ‘extra’ time, but I simply cannot die. My daughter needs me, no child should have to grow up without the unique love of their mother. My husband needs me, he should not have to raise our daughter alone. I need to survive and I am fighting with every fibre of my being.
My best chance of survival is to get into a clinical trial, which may involve significant travel and accommodation costs, or to personally fund treatment with medications that are not available on the public system. The costs of either option are significant, and are well beyond our reach.
We are asking for any contribution, no matter how big or small to assist with treatment costs to give me the best possible chance to be around for long enough for scientists to develop a cure.
At the age of 18 I successfully battled Ovarian Cancer, that was 14 years ago. I want to be here in another 14 years, watching my daughter grow, creating many, many more happy memories and giving her the start in life that she deserves.
Every single dollar that we can raise will make all of this more likely. We thank everyone who is able to contribute from the very bottom of our hearts.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
In March 2015 our world fell apart. With my then 17-month-old daughter in my arms I was told, “there is a complex, ill-defined mass in your upper abdomen and innumerable nodules on your lungs. We can’t be sure but it looks like cancer.” Holding my little girl in my arms I felt the world crumble around me, I held Jessica close and tried to infuse her with a lifetime of love, something I have endeavoured to do multiple times a day since then.
After a lengthy series of biopsies and tests it was finally confirmed that I had Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer with metastases in my lungs. There is no cure. Less than 7% of people diagnosed with stage of pancreatic cancer survive for 5 years. At the age of 30 my life expectancy was measured in months, not years. I was unlikely to see my daughter turn two.
I was treated with palliative chemotherapy, aiming to gain a few extra precious months and reduce the pain. I was forced to give up work, unable to cope with the side effects of the chemotherapy while working. We began to face enormous financial pressure due to my inability to work and the additional costs brought about by my medical needs.
Now, after over 100 infusions of chemotherapy and nearly two years later, years that I have valued beyond all measure, the chemotherapy has stopped working, the cancer is becoming resistant and is fighting back.
Over the last 2 years I have focussed on filling Jessica’s heart with a lifetime of Mummy’s love, but of course, it is never enough. As a family we have tried to make as many happy memories as possible on a very tight budget. I know that I am lucky to have had this ‘extra’ time, but I simply cannot die. My daughter needs me, no child should have to grow up without the unique love of their mother. My husband needs me, he should not have to raise our daughter alone. I need to survive and I am fighting with every fibre of my being.
My best chance of survival is to get into a clinical trial, which may involve significant travel and accommodation costs, or to personally fund treatment with medications that are not available on the public system. The costs of either option are significant, and are well beyond our reach.
We are asking for any contribution, no matter how big or small to assist with treatment costs to give me the best possible chance to be around for long enough for scientists to develop a cure.
At the age of 18 I successfully battled Ovarian Cancer, that was 14 years ago. I want to be here in another 14 years, watching my daughter grow, creating many, many more happy memories and giving her the start in life that she deserves.
Every single dollar that we can raise will make all of this more likely. We thank everyone who is able to contribute from the very bottom of our hearts.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Organizer
Leanne Nicholas
Organizer
Eumundi QLD
