Donations Raise Treatment Hope
After Faberge Proctor’s cancer reappeared for the third time, the 25-year-old had a decision to make.
Did she stick it out with the doctors in Australia or did she look for answers elsewhere?
She decided to try an alternative treatment overseas at the Gerson Institute, but it came with a $20,000 price tag.
So she created an online donation page in the hope friends and family might be able to help her out.
‘‘I put the website up until June 30 because I thought it might take at least a month to raise half that money, but everyone proved me wrong,’’ Miss Proctor said.
The site raised the $20,000 in just two days, and kept growing and is now sitting at almost $27,000.
‘‘I can’t even say with words how grateful I am to the community in Campbelltown and Camden,’’ Miss Proctor said.
‘‘I don’t fear being sick, I fear telling my family again and having that support and knowing that it is not just my family supporting me, its everyone, it’s uplifting for them.’’
A fund-raising event will be held at Menangle Park House on Sunday, June 8 with a $35 cover charge to contribute towards the on going cost of the treatment.
Miss Proctor’s friend, and event organiser, Ella King said the event would include live entertainment, a massive auction and food provided by Menangle Park House.
Miss King said the influx of community support had been overwhelming.
‘‘It just makes me so proud of where we’re from when something like this happens,’’ she said.
‘‘People have blown me away with their support.
‘‘I’ve known [Faberge] since school and she has this abundance of friends from all walks of life.
‘‘She’s just a beautiful person.’’
Miss Proctor, who moved to Queensland a couple of weeks ago, was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2012 and after two operations she was given the all clear.
But in December 2013 she found a lump that grew so quickly it required urgent surgery and radiotherapy.
And then, on May 12, scans found the cancer had spread to her lungs.
‘‘I want to go towards natural therapies,’’ Miss Proctor said.
‘‘There’s talk of chemotherapy at the moment. I went through radiotherapy and that was hard enough.
‘‘Chemo scares me. I’ve been battling cancer for the last two years and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be cured.
‘‘I’m just waiting for the day they tell me it’s spread and this is how long I’ve got and knowing I’ve just wasted the end of my life doing things that didn’t help me.’’
Miss Proctor will know in the next few days if she has been accepted into the limited treatment program which she hopes will prolong her life.
‘‘Gerson therapy is a complete change in diet, it is a vegan lifestyle.
‘‘[The treatment] can be isolating, but I think I’m ready to take that on.’’
Donate at mycause to support Ms Proctor.