In May 2024, Mum noticed that her vision in her right peripheral cut off. Coincidentally, she'd recently got a new pair of glasses. Assuming that it was the glasses at fault, she went back to the optometrist to get them corrected. Thankfully, he knew that this wasn't a quality issue and Mum was advised to get to the doctors ASAP. Within the week, scans were done and a diagnosis of primary brain tumour. Within 2 weeks a craniotomy was scheduled and successful in removing majority of the tumour. The tissue retrieved from the craniotomy confirmed it was the diagnosis we least wanted, Glioblastoma. Glio isn't overly receptive to any standard treatment for cancers but our medical advice is throw everything at it, including 6 weeks of radiation followed by 6 months of chemo.
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Life then continued on, the biggest nuisance being that Mum wasn't allowed to drive and I was a designated chauffeur, payback I can assume for all the driving around she did in our childhood.
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At a regularly scheduled scan in June 2025, it indicated there was a bit of growth but nothing overly worrying. Having talked to the neurosurgeon and oncologist, Mum decided that having a further surgery was the move forward. Unfortunately, a scan in August ruled this out as an option due to it now being too close to the ventricle. We have exhausted looking at options in New Zealand and Australia, including considering private or trial therapies. There are just no further steps here.
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As Mum continues feeling well, we can't help but fight to maintain this for her. The most promising we feel is dendritic cell therapy.
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Previously, we had kept a normal routine and were fairly private in dealing with Glioblastoma. The 'she'll be right' attitude is one we've continued on with. Now, we have a long treatment schedule ahead of us with ongoing medical costs and ultimately lead us to accepting that asking for help from those who are able to contribute. It's one which still feels a bit foreign and awkward to us, and we can never express how much we appreciate the help which has happened from diagnosis and now to treatment. We are now planning to receive treatments in Germany for ~3 months, and then continue to receive maintenance treatments in New Zealand hopefully.
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Updates will be posted on our Give a Little page as we feel ready to share.
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Again, a thank you to everyone who has supported Mum, and all the family, in any way throughout this time.
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