M&M Twins Fight Breast Cancer
Donation protected
Have you met the M&M twins?
Imagine two people who share the same profession (both nurses), the same zest and motivation for life, along with entirely selfless qualities. So imagine two brave women, Mandi Holman and Melissa Fahey are identical twins who share more than just DNA. Both of these women are extremely generous and spend their days supporting those in their surrounding community, hence, leaving little time for themselves. They are inseparable and have given great joy and peace to many people. Their dream is to live to an age of great number and share the delight of living with their families, creating memories to last a lifetime. They are two of a kind!
Only one thing stands in their way…
Mandi was first diagnosed with stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer at age 42, just a few short years after the birth of her third child. Triple Negative Breast Cancer is a type of cancer that does not have any of the three receptors commonly found on breast cancer cells – the oestrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors.
Mandi one day noticed a pain in her left breast and armpit. She assumed it was just strained from carrying her daughter to and fro. After the pain didn’t subside, she grew suspicious and consulted her doctor. Tests were done and sure enough came back positive for breast cancer. This devastating news was shattering to all close to Mandi, especially her twin sister Melissa. Losing her best friend was not something she was going to allow. Selflessly, Melissa decided that she would take a year’s leave from her work to support her sister through this detrimental time.
Their journey began and they were told in great hope that this particular type of cancer usually responds well to chemotherapy treatment and could be controlled with a series of surgeries. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Mandi. Now aged 43, Mandi has completed 4 sessions of chemotherapy, with doses as frequent as once per week, undergone 4 debilitating surgeries, including lumpectomies, the removal of 8 lymph glands, a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, completed six weeks of radiation conducted every working day.
Collectively her treatment, surgery, hospital accommodation/parking, specialist’s visits, medication costs and home nurse visits have totalled to an astounding $20,000 in just one year.
Although, it is the physical and emotional costs that create the greatest impact. Mandi’s recovery period from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation is proportional to the time she has spent diagnosed with the cancer; 13 months. She was not able seek an escape at any point as the chemotherapy and radiation treatment left her in round the clock pain. Her emotional costs are equal in time, but not in intensity. Mandi was not even able to hug her 3 children in fear of contracting an infection that had the potential to kill her, or poisoning her children with the cytotoxic chemicals circulating her bloodstream each day. Her youngest daughter never quite able to grasp why ‘Mummy couldn’t come and play today’.
Ironically, her sister Melissa shares identical DNA to herself, meaning that there was a 97% chance of her developing cancer in the next five years. This led to Melissa needing the debilitating double mastectomy also to decrease her chances of developing the same cancer.
This was all conducted as Mandi commenced her fourth treatment session, only for it to be deemed unsuccessful. Mandi found 5 more tumours in her breast and back. It has now spread to her skin (largest organ of the body).
Mandi and her family at a point of exhaustion, but still in the highest of spirits. Mandi’s specialist team has indicated that this cancer will not be able to be controlled in any foreseeable future. Mandi will undergo another surgery to remove the lumps in her body.
Mandi’s time is limited now limited in all our lives. She is in desperate need of help.
Her next course of action is to visit Melbourne’s Specialist Cancer Centre in hope that current trial medications will prolong her life. Samples of her tissues will need to be sent to USA for potentially lifesaving testing which will cost $10,000 alone.
Mandi has again drawn on her bottomless pit of strength and declared that she will not give up and this journey is not over.
Mandi and all her family meet each stage with incomprehensible determination, strength and courage. Her will to persevere, survive and live is beyond incredible; ‘’I dream that I live long enough to see my children marry and build a future for themselves. This is motivation, this is my determination, and I will keep on going until the end. My body and mind will endure’’.
Mandi’s family members have begun a mission to raise the funds to support the next stage in her inspirational fight. They simply cannot do it on their own and are calling on all who are willing to donate their support.
Please help Mandi by donating! xx
Imagine two people who share the same profession (both nurses), the same zest and motivation for life, along with entirely selfless qualities. So imagine two brave women, Mandi Holman and Melissa Fahey are identical twins who share more than just DNA. Both of these women are extremely generous and spend their days supporting those in their surrounding community, hence, leaving little time for themselves. They are inseparable and have given great joy and peace to many people. Their dream is to live to an age of great number and share the delight of living with their families, creating memories to last a lifetime. They are two of a kind!
Only one thing stands in their way…
Mandi was first diagnosed with stage 3 Triple Negative Breast Cancer at age 42, just a few short years after the birth of her third child. Triple Negative Breast Cancer is a type of cancer that does not have any of the three receptors commonly found on breast cancer cells – the oestrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors.
Mandi one day noticed a pain in her left breast and armpit. She assumed it was just strained from carrying her daughter to and fro. After the pain didn’t subside, she grew suspicious and consulted her doctor. Tests were done and sure enough came back positive for breast cancer. This devastating news was shattering to all close to Mandi, especially her twin sister Melissa. Losing her best friend was not something she was going to allow. Selflessly, Melissa decided that she would take a year’s leave from her work to support her sister through this detrimental time.
Their journey began and they were told in great hope that this particular type of cancer usually responds well to chemotherapy treatment and could be controlled with a series of surgeries. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Mandi. Now aged 43, Mandi has completed 4 sessions of chemotherapy, with doses as frequent as once per week, undergone 4 debilitating surgeries, including lumpectomies, the removal of 8 lymph glands, a bilateral mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, completed six weeks of radiation conducted every working day.
Collectively her treatment, surgery, hospital accommodation/parking, specialist’s visits, medication costs and home nurse visits have totalled to an astounding $20,000 in just one year.
Although, it is the physical and emotional costs that create the greatest impact. Mandi’s recovery period from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation is proportional to the time she has spent diagnosed with the cancer; 13 months. She was not able seek an escape at any point as the chemotherapy and radiation treatment left her in round the clock pain. Her emotional costs are equal in time, but not in intensity. Mandi was not even able to hug her 3 children in fear of contracting an infection that had the potential to kill her, or poisoning her children with the cytotoxic chemicals circulating her bloodstream each day. Her youngest daughter never quite able to grasp why ‘Mummy couldn’t come and play today’.
Ironically, her sister Melissa shares identical DNA to herself, meaning that there was a 97% chance of her developing cancer in the next five years. This led to Melissa needing the debilitating double mastectomy also to decrease her chances of developing the same cancer.
This was all conducted as Mandi commenced her fourth treatment session, only for it to be deemed unsuccessful. Mandi found 5 more tumours in her breast and back. It has now spread to her skin (largest organ of the body).
Mandi and her family at a point of exhaustion, but still in the highest of spirits. Mandi’s specialist team has indicated that this cancer will not be able to be controlled in any foreseeable future. Mandi will undergo another surgery to remove the lumps in her body.
Mandi’s time is limited now limited in all our lives. She is in desperate need of help.
Her next course of action is to visit Melbourne’s Specialist Cancer Centre in hope that current trial medications will prolong her life. Samples of her tissues will need to be sent to USA for potentially lifesaving testing which will cost $10,000 alone.
Mandi has again drawn on her bottomless pit of strength and declared that she will not give up and this journey is not over.
Mandi and all her family meet each stage with incomprehensible determination, strength and courage. Her will to persevere, survive and live is beyond incredible; ‘’I dream that I live long enough to see my children marry and build a future for themselves. This is motivation, this is my determination, and I will keep on going until the end. My body and mind will endure’’.
Mandi’s family members have begun a mission to raise the funds to support the next stage in her inspirational fight. They simply cannot do it on their own and are calling on all who are willing to donate their support.
Please help Mandi by donating! xx
Organizer
Briannon Drew
Organizer
Otford NSW
