In early 2018, my mum Maria was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Born in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) she resides in Port Moresby, PNG. Unfortunately, there is no proper cancer treatment in PNG and mum has had to make do with the minimal treatment available. If you know my mum, she is always a giver with a big smile on her face and does not ask for anything in return, except to receive the gratitude and love from the friends, family members and strangers that she has helped. My family was fortunate to bring mum over to Brisbane, Australia in August 2018 for her lymph nodes surgery and planned for her to return to Brisbane in 2019 for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. All costs were paid in full and out of pocket with no rebate as mum is an international patient ineligible for Medicare and Private Health Insurance. Mum returned to PNG until we could organise enough money for her medical treatment. When mum was waiting at the airport on Sunday, 22 March 2020 to fly back to Brisbane, COVID-19 was close to its peak and the Australian Government closed the Australian borders that weekend with only Australian citizen’s and permanent residents allowed to return. Mum was refused travel and remained in PNG where her cancer grew back. She had a mastectomy in October 2021 in Port Moresby, PNG. We thought that this operation had put her in the clear, but the cancer was relentless and grew back through her scar and also spread to her lungs, chest and the top of her spine. We finally got mum back to Brisbane in August 2022. She was in very bad shape and was admitted to the Emergency Department, Mater Private Adult Hospital that same day. We are so grateful and thankful for the medical care and treatment she received but now she faces a journey ahead of chemotherapy, radiation and bone treatment. Mum cannot be seen through the public health system as she is an international patient so we can only use private health facilities. All of mum’s care is paid in full and upfront and the chemotherapy medication that she needs is just under $5,000 per month. My family has been paying this amount in addition to other administrative and medical costs since August 2022, but finding it hard to continue on our own and hoping to receive additional financial assistance from you.
Please support us by donating any amount big or small. We will forever be thankful.
We are also hoping you can pass this on to your family and friends. May God bless you for your kindness and support.
Thnakyou ?????