Rebuilding life after losing Lisa

Show your support for Paul and help him get back on his feet after he lovingly devoted the last four years to full time care of his wife Lisa as she battled adrenal cancer.

On 14th August 2013 the Kenny family was dealt a devastating blow.
Lisa Kenny was diagnosed with terminal Stage IV adrenal cancer following the removal of a 9cm tumor that had taken over her right adrenal gland. By the time the primary tumor was removed the cancer had already spread to her lungs. Adrenal cancer is a rare and aggressive cancer that doesn’t respond to conventional cancer treatments and Lisa was given a prognosis of less than 12 months to live. The worse thing about her type of adrenal cancer is that the tumors produce large amounts of cortisol (a steroid hormone) and as they increased in size and number Lisa suffered from uncontrolled Cushing’s Syndrome.

Not long before her diagnosis, her husband Paul took a voluntary redundancy. Lisa was only 52 years old, their four children were now all grown up and she had a lot of swimming in the ocean to do. They sold their house, bought a bus and were planning their adventures on the road together. However Lisa’s health deteriorated during that time and their “retirement” together became a battle for Lisa’s life.

The doctors didn’t offer Lisa much hope but she was determined to get in as much quality of life as possible. So together Lisa and Paul did their own research and with the help of one courageous surgeon, pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible for the treatment of adrenal cancer. Lisa bravely defied the odds time and again and was an inspiration to many people.

Lisa had several rounds of chemotherapy (that just made her sicker). She then argued the case for stereotactic body radiation therapy which helped but ended up damaging her lungs. All up she endured three major operations and a pulmonary embolism (lung clot) that nearly took her out. Throughout all of this Paul was by her side lovingly caring for her.

Lisa passed away at home, with her family on 26 January 2017, aged 56. The previous four years took its toll on both Lisa and Paul physically, emotionally and financially in ways that no-one could have foreseen.

The four Kenny kids Bec, Jeremy, Owen and Alice started this campaign with the aim to help Paul get back on his feet financially and rebuild his life. We are so proud of Paul for his unwavering love, patience and resilience in providing full time care for Lisa, his wife of 35 years, from beginning to end. It would be such a blessing to relieve him of some of the financial burden he has been left with as he has sacrificially always put others first throughout his life. In particular Paul is hoping to set his house up as Airbnb accommodation, finish his CPA accounting qualification and fit out the bus so he can spend time with his children, grandchildren and all the friends he hasn’t been able to hang out with.

Please help us support Paul through this transition by pressing the donate button and sharing this page.

The Kenny family is so grateful for everything everyone has done for us over the period of Lisa’s illness. Family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, health care staff and even strangers have sustained us with their love, humour, generosity, professionalism and kindness.