14/07/2015
I am taking on this journey in memory of the most amazing, inspiring, role model, tough and resilient person I have ever had in my life.
MY MUM - Gayle Marilyn Zolnierczyk (nee Wain) - Was tired and weary and could no longer continue her battle with this horid disease 5.5 years ago in 2009 at the young age of 55.
Her ARDUOUS journey began in 1990 at the age of only 36 (my age now, and that scares the absolute hell out of me) when I was only 11 years old and my sister 9 years old. (What 11 & 9 year old should have to see their mum go through what my sister and I did)
My mum's cancer story goes like this:
She was first diagnosed with breast cancer all those years ago (25 years actually), she had a mastectomy, and then chemo-therapy and radiation therapy. My mum was such a trooper that whilst having radiation therapy, she actually continued to work. She had approx a ten year break and then in the year of 2000 (supposed to be a celebratory year, with the turn of the centuary, not much celebration in our family) she was again diagnosed with breast cancer on the opposite side. Again she took it like a trooper and soldiered through her treatment. She never complained, just got on with life. And did what had to be done.
It seems to have been give or take roughly ten years between each of her battles. As that s**t 'C' reared its ugly head again in 2007, this time delivering my beautiful mum bowel cancer, and after having surgery for this (all was thought to ok, with possibly no chemo required, but only for a day or 2 until there was secondary cancer found on her liver. This diagnosis was a 'Stage 4' diagnosis (for those that don't know, stage 4 normally means terminal.
She fought this newest battle for a little short of 2 years, with the ongoing chemotherapy treatment, when eventually she said to us, I just can't keep doing this anymore, I have no quality, I want to give up treatment and have some quality time with you all. Mind you my sister and I were both pregnant at this time. (Me with my 2nd and my sister with her first baby)
We asked her what she wanted to do with this time, and in normal Gayle form, (for those that knew her) there actually wasn't a lot, she wanted to just go on a houseboat with her family.
However this was not to be, because as soon as she ceased treatment, that s**t 'C' thought it was travel time and just took over her body. And she got to tired to fight anymore only 8 or so weeks later, she went to sleep. Free of pain and suffering.
This is something that you never get over, I miss my mum each and every day, people say it gets easier, but news for everyone, it doesn't! Just because there is a brave happy face on the outside, does not mean that it is the same on the inside. Every day is a battle.
There are so many things I would have loved my mum to be with me for, to enjoy with me and my husband and our 3 children. To enjoy with both her girls and all her grandchildren.
There is not a day that goes by, that I don't think, gee I wish I could ring mum to tell her this, or ask her that. Or ask her to come for dinner. Or a memory flash of something we did together.
I figured, honestly a 60km walk, is a walk in the park, compared to what my mum had to endure, so this is why I have decided to participate in The Weekend to End Women's Cancers, a 60km walk, to raise money to try and prevent others suffering.
So please help me to raise money so others don't have to go through this.
I have set a personal goal of raising $2000. And I'm asking if any of you can help, any donation large or small will help me to reach my goal. And if your are unable to donate if you would ever so kind and share my post.
https://www.facebook.com/kim.evans.31/posts/10153408837593701
The Weekend to End Women's Cancers® is an inspiring, two-day 60 km walk. During this life-changing journey, you will walk throughout Australias's streets and suburbs! The Weekend is a brand-new endeavour to do just that end ALL women's cancers. Learn more at endcancer.org.au.
