Letters from Peter Mac patients to our generous supporters
01 February 2022
Maria wants to be around for her children as they grow up
Maria has always wanted to be a mum.
When Maria and her husband adopted Mae and Blake, her dream finally became a reality and she couldn't be happier.
Unfortunately, three years ago Maria was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare type of cancer that currently has no cure.
Despite it all, Maria is determined to be around for her children and to see them grow up.
Thankfully - with multiple breakthroughs and advancements made in cancer research over the past decade - the life expectancy of people with cancers like multiple myeloma has greatly improved.
Maria and her husband, with their two adopted children Mae and Blake
Each new discovery brings us closer to discovering a cure for all cancers, as well as greatly impacting the lives of people like Maria and her family.
"Being diagnosed with multiple myeloma was obviously a complete shock. There is currently no known cure for the disease, and the ongoing treatment can knock me around a bit.
Being faced with an incurable cancer, I know how important ongoing research is. Who knows, a cure could be just around the corner! With generous donations from people like you, research breakthroughs will continue.
Last year I shared my story with generous Peter Mac supporters, and I have received so many beautiful messages of support since.
To receive that encouragement from people I don’t even know was just wonderful.
It reminded me that cancer truly does impact everyone, in one way or another, and the only way we’re going to overcome it is by supporting each other."
Like any loving parent, Maria is afraid that she won't be there for Mae and Blake's future. She's afraid that she won't get the chance to see them grow up, to be there for their 21st birthdays, their weddings, or watch them have their own families.
Your kind support gives Maria hope that there will be more life-saving cures for cancers like multiple myeloma.
Congratulations to Jess for being 5 years in remission and her upcoming wedding!
When Jess first came to Peter Mac, she had been diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer – conjunctival ocular melanoma.
At just 21 years of age, Jess had to have her left eye removed in the hope this would remove the cancer. Unfortunately, only a year later, the cancer was back – this time in her brain.
After undergoing brain surgery, it took Jess several months to learn to walk again. But she was determined.
While her cancer was extremely rare, Jess was fortunate to be able to access the latest research insights and treatment at Peter Mac.
“Within a day of arriving at Peter Mac they had already created a huge plan. I had 50 doctors recommend the best course of action for me which made me feel very comfortable.
I am so grateful for your support.
Without you, Peter Mac would not be the pinnacle of hope it is today. Peter Mac is at the forefront of cancer research and they have given me a second chance. I get to create a beautiful life beyond what could have been a terminal diagnosis!
Thank you.”
We are happy to tell you that Jess's cancer has now been stable for the past five years and has passed on the wonderful news of her engagement and upcoming wedding. She showed enormous resilience throughout her experience, and has recently published her first book, Eye Won.
Support like yours has given Kim the gift of time with her boys
When Kim first began experiencing stomach pains and cramps, her doctor initially thought it was irritable bowel syndrome. It wasn't until the night of her eldest son's graduation that the pain became too great and she was taken to the emergency ward where it was discovered that she actually had bowel cancer.
The next few years involved several surgeries to remove her bowel and the cancer that had spread to her stomach wall, as well as several bouts of chemo that caused some challenging and difficult side effects such as temporary blindness.
Despite it all, Kim and her family remain hopeful for the future and the potential for research to discover life-saving cures and treatments for cancer.
"My name is Kim and I am living with stage 4 bowel cancer.
It’s because of cancer research that I’m still here today with my two sons. I can’t say anything else but thank you for supporting cancer research!
Before I went into remission, I thought cancer might take me from my boys far too soon. But I was able to get the latest treatment for my cancer type at Peter Mac, extending my life. I may never be cancer-free, but being in remission now means I get longer to be a mum to my sons. What a good life.
I just hope to see my children achieve everything that they want. That's all I care about. You’re helping to make that happen for so many people like me by supporting cancer research.
Thank you so much."
The most important thing to Kim is spending more time with her family, especially her two sons. Something that's only been made possible with recent breakthroughs and discoveries in cancer research.
It's thanks to support like yours that Peter Mac can continue our vision of creating a world where no lives are lost to cancer.
