Someone very special has been battling Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for 18 months. Jacqui is not only special to us but to all the people whose lives she has touched over more than 25 years helping others.
Jacqui has been a loving wife to Richard for 38 years, is a devoted mother to Dale and Lee and their partners, and grandmother to five. Everyone who knows her knows that she is the first person to help anyone in need. She has supported countless people through her work at Domicillary Care, Bedford Industries, SCOSA, the Calvary Silver Circle and as a family day care provider. Within the community Jacqui has raised funds as an active member of fundraising committees for the Crippled Children’s Association and Muscular Dystrophy Association and through activities such as Relay for life. Even while sick Jacqui has assisted schools to help local families in need, and prepares food parcels and Christmas hampers.
Jacqui has given so much and now needs our help and support. After being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in April 2013 Jacqui underwent multiple cycles of chemotherapy and 17 rounds of radiotherapy. She has battled multiple infections and required stays in ICU. After her gruelling treatment her cancer went into remission. Unfortunately in late January/early February of 2014 the familiar itching returned and Jacqui knew that the cancer was back. After some further tests her fears were confirmed, it was back. Chemotherapy was recommenced with a view to Jacqui having a stem cell transplant. Just two days away from the transplant Jacqui developed some unexpected complications and the transplant could not go ahead. Time for more chemotherapy. After consultations between many experts it was decided that Jacqui needs to be treated with a drug called Brentuximab. Although this will give Jacqui her best chance of beating the cancer it is not available on the PBS and so costs about $16,000 per round with Jacqui needing at least 4 rounds.
Which brings us to the reason for which we are writing. Given all the people Jacqui has touched many people have asked what they can do to help. Jacqui finds it hard to ask for help and so we thought this would be a way people could provide the help Jacqui needs most right now as she fights to save her life. We hope to do 2 things – raise awareness about lymphoma and the difficulty that Australians have in being able to access life saving treatments and to try to ease the financial burden on Jacqui and her family. Any donation you can spare, no matter how small, will allow her to continue treatment and make a massive difference to the lives of Jacqui and Richard. All donations will go towards the cost of this life saving medication. We thank you in advance for your generosity.
How else can I help?
* Please consider becoming a blood donor. People with lymphoma and other blood cancers often rely on blood and platelet transfusions. http://www.donateblood.com.au
* Please consider joining the Australian Bone Marrow Donor registry (ABMDR) to help save the lives of people dealing with a blood cancer. http://www.abmdr.org.au
Credit Union SA staff casual day fundraiser