As I sit and write this I am again stunned and amazed at the goodness of people and your response to our appeal for help. Life has settled into a pattern (I guess its a kind of pattern or routine) now that I have been back at work and Sonja's treatment continues. We are very fortunate at the moment to have Aimée (our eldest and recently married daughter) free from the demands of full time employment to come around and help out and keep company. Also Rachel & Tim are still on what seems like an endless summer break from University! All of this is great as there is always someone around during the day at home. They are all great kids and we are very proud of them.
Sonja continues with her daily Tykerb" tablets and we are pleased to say that the side effects from this are not too bad to date. The other part of treatment is the weekly dose of chemotherapy (vinorelbine). This is administered every Friday afternoon - actually 2 out of 3 Fridays as week 3 is a "rest" week. So this Friday will be week 4 (with last week being the "rest" week). The side effects from this drug are more significant, with fatigue, tiredness, aches and pains to name a few. This seems to hit around day 4 after treatment. It starts to lift late Thursday and of course by Friday it's time for another round. This is hard physically and mentally for Sonja so please pray for her strength to continue for the full treatment. She is the strongest person I know without doubt!
Your amazing response to our request for help is so appreciated. The total is now just under $42,000!
We are so thankful to all who have helped achieve this and can only again say "Thank You" so much!
Sonja had an assessment today and for some reason we saw another oncologist who turned out to be the "big guy" (the main "Professor" who is well respected and who we had heard about but never met). I quietly wondered afterwards if he wanted the meet the faith filled courageous woman who has defied so many odds and whom his colleague had told him so much about! (maybe that's just me letting my imagination run wild a bit, but then......?)
Anyway he was happy to continue with treatment and even increased the dose of vinorelbine slightly, so onwards we go on the road to being well!
Lastly (but not least) - again for those of you who pray (and don't think you have to be really good at it or amazingly spiritual)! I reckon pretty simple down to earth prayers are as good as anything so have a go!
Please pray that:
Sonja has a very accurate and skilled nurse who gets the canulation in first time.
Side effects from both drugs get no worse and even reduce.
Strength for Sonja to continue with the treatment (which is easier if the above happens)
These drugs work to the maximum to eliminate all bad cells and disease.
Again we thank you all and we pray that God will bless each and every one of you - even more than you can imagine.
Denis.
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Tuesday 17 January 2012
WOW
I never thought I would be writing these words just 17 says after I sent out the email asking for your help....but we made it and you all have made it possible!
We have reached the required amount of $38,000 to fund the drug (Tykerb) for Sonja's treatment. In fact the amount has been exceeded and stands at just over $40,000! What can I say but again "Thank You" to all of you on behalf of Sonja, myself, Aimee, Kane, Rachel & Tim.
This takes an enormous pressure off us as a family to not to have to worry about the cost of this treatment. We appreciate every single one of you so much (some of you we have never met). There are people from several countries who have contributed and we can only again express our deepest gratitude. We would like to acknowledge and thank each of you if we can. Some donations have come through without a name on the reference field. This may be because you want to remain anonymous and if so we understand and respect that. If you don't wish to remain anonymous we would love to send you a card to say thank you. If this is the case drop us an email (fivekellys@vodafone.co.nz) with your details.
I will keep this blog going as Sonja progresses through the treatment to wellness with updates on how she is doing and I would like to encourage anyone who feels they would like to send through words of support or encouragement to just fire them through via email. Sonja does get a lot of strength and encouragement from them (as do we all).
Sonja has a break from chemotherapy (intravenous) this week. The pattern is 2 Fridays on and the third is a break. She takes the "Tykerb" tablets every day. She has an assessment with the oncologist on Wednesday the 25th and this will happen every 3 weeks to track her progress.
For those of you who are wanting direction for things to pray for, then the above meeting on Wednesday is a good place to start. Also for Sonja to have more strength and for the side effects of the drugs to not increase but decrease. Specifically aches and pains from the chemo on about day 3-4 after treatment.
What else can I say, but WOW! We are very blessed to have so many people on our side in this battle. Your support, not only financially, but in so many other ways makes a huge difference.
Denis
We have reached the required amount of $38,000 to fund the drug (Tykerb) for Sonja's treatment. In fact the amount has been exceeded and stands at just over $40,000! What can I say but again "Thank You" to all of you on behalf of Sonja, myself, Aimee, Kane, Rachel & Tim.
This takes an enormous pressure off us as a family to not to have to worry about the cost of this treatment. We appreciate every single one of you so much (some of you we have never met). There are people from several countries who have contributed and we can only again express our deepest gratitude. We would like to acknowledge and thank each of you if we can. Some donations have come through without a name on the reference field. This may be because you want to remain anonymous and if so we understand and respect that. If you don't wish to remain anonymous we would love to send you a card to say thank you. If this is the case drop us an email (fivekellys@vodafone.co.nz) with your details.
I will keep this blog going as Sonja progresses through the treatment to wellness with updates on how she is doing and I would like to encourage anyone who feels they would like to send through words of support or encouragement to just fire them through via email. Sonja does get a lot of strength and encouragement from them (as do we all).
Sonja has a break from chemotherapy (intravenous) this week. The pattern is 2 Fridays on and the third is a break. She takes the "Tykerb" tablets every day. She has an assessment with the oncologist on Wednesday the 25th and this will happen every 3 weeks to track her progress.
For those of you who are wanting direction for things to pray for, then the above meeting on Wednesday is a good place to start. Also for Sonja to have more strength and for the side effects of the drugs to not increase but decrease. Specifically aches and pains from the chemo on about day 3-4 after treatment.
What else can I say, but WOW! We are very blessed to have so many people on our side in this battle. Your support, not only financially, but in so many other ways makes a huge difference.
Denis
Thursday 12 January 2012
Friday 13th January
Don't know how many ways to say THANK YOU to you all!
It is 13 days since I sent my original email asking for help and never did I imagine the response would be so fast and amazing. I don't mean I didn't believe we would get a great response (and get there eventually), but I must be honest and admit I never thought it would be so immediate!
The new total today as I write this (whilst looking at a lovely sunny Orewa Beach with my family) is a stunning $32,800!!!
You are all truly amazing and we are blessed to have such great family and friends.
Sonja had her second intraveneous Chemotherapy today and is doing pretty well. She is also taking her daily "Tykerb" tablets each day (this is the one that you all have helped us purchase).
Side effects are a factor but so far pretty tolerable (I guess that's easy for me to say as I'm not the one having them).
For those people who are supporting us in prayer, here are some points to target:
- For the 2 drugs to work better than ever before or expected.
- For the right nurse on Fridays who get the "canulation" right first time. (as this hurts)
- For the side effects to be no worse than at present (and even better to cease)
- Strength and energy for Sonja to go through the treatment.
- Anything else you feel to pray for.
Thanks again,
Denis
Monday 9 January 2012
Tuesday 10th January
Hi to all our wonderful family and friends!
I am exremely happy and overwhelmed to report that the updated total for the "keeping Sonja well" fund is just under $30,000! You guys (and girls) are amazing and we are really blessed to have such a great group of supporters. What can I say but again thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
We are having a few days together as a family this week with our lovely daughter Aimee and her great husband Kane. Also very happy to report we are having settled weather and no rain to speak of. Sonja is doing pretty well and so far side effects have been minimal. Thank you to those who are praying for this as it makes a difference.
Friday 6 January 2012
Saturday 7th January
Further to my post last night re Sonja's first treatment - I realised I omitted to post the total raised which is now at $24,680!!
We are so very thankful for this and would like to thank as many people as we can so please leave a name when you donate (unless you prefer to remain anonymous). Also please feel free to email anything from words of encouragement, questions, or to check that your funds got through. Email is fivekellys@vodafone.co.nz
Thank you all so muchDenis.
January 6th 2012 _ First Treatment
Hi Everyone,
We have completed the first treatment this afternoon! It was very fast compared to the other chemotherapies Sonja has had. All over in one hour. All went well in that we had a nurse we know who is experienced and was lovely. The staff at Auckland Hospital Oncology really admire Sonja (as do I) and it was evident by the welcome she received that she is a special patient to them.
I must say that as I purchased the first prescription of "Tykerb" today (as Sonja was just completing her intravenous "funded" chemo), that I was struck by the image of many faces of people who have helped us to purchase this drug as I swiped my card. The assistant asked me to check the price before I entered the details as it was obviously an unusually large amount for a prescription.
What can I say except to say thank you again to all who have helped us and again thank you for your financial support, prayer support, and encouragement which all makes such a massive difference!
Bless you all,
Denis
Wednesday 4 January 2012
Internet funds transfers
We are aware some people have had some questions re transferring money from outside of New Zealand. Go to this link (copy and paste onto your web browser) for information on how to do this
http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/personal-banking/international-services/receiving/international-transfers.asp which should help.
http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/personal-banking/international-services/receiving/international-transfers.asp which should help.
Thanks again to everyone,
Love
Denis.
Thursday 5th January
This is the day before the first treatment starts for Sonja. We saw our oncologist yesterday and he is happy to proceed as agreed. There are of course known side effects from both these drugs so please pray that these will be minimal or even better yet - none at all. We are amazed and completely humbled by everyone's generosity and can report that we have thus far received a total of over $23,000!!!!
Thank you all again and please feel free to email us if you want to confirm your donation has reached us as we would love to be able to personally thank as many people as we can.
Also to those of you who have found this news out via the email I do apologise but we only found out ourselves days before Christmas and time was a big factor in getting this out there.
Sonja loves to hear words of encouragement so feel free to email those through.
Email : fivekellys@vodafone.co.nz
Denis.
Tuesday 3 January 2012
We’re right with you Son, walking beside you every step of the way!
In essence the answer to everything lie’s in the recognition that God and complete Wholeness is the only reality. And that everything in the universe is directly related and connected to everything else and there is no barrier anywhere that can block your absolute right to health, healing and wholeness. God is all there is.
As for the $38,000 - well, it’s not a lot, if you say it quickly enough! Could we find a way of seeing each contribution as a loving snowflake falling from a deep blue sky in winter? Each snowflake carrying with it the love of your family and friends. $38,000 might seem like an impossible mountain to climb, but if we could find 400 friends who could send a snowflake gift of just $95 each, then it’s a mountain no more, just snowflakes of love falling everywhere just for you. We can do it Son – together we are reaching out to God for your complete healing and return to wellness.
With love - Paul
Monday 2 January 2012
Update Tuesday 3rd January
Wow! we are completely amazed and very humbled by the response to this appeal for help for Sonja. Less than 24 hours from when I pushed the "send" button on my computer we have had more than one quarter of the funds required for Sonja's treatment pledged!
All I can say (which seems so inadequate) is thank you! thank you! thank you!
I know we will get to the target and we really appreciate all the pledges of support and encouragement we have received.
Bless you all,
Denis.
All I can say (which seems so inadequate) is thank you! thank you! thank you!
I know we will get to the target and we really appreciate all the pledges of support and encouragement we have received.
Bless you all,
Denis.
The Greatest Wealth Is Health
History/Background:
Since 1999 my wife (and our mum) Sonja has been battling breast cancer. She has been through many treatment regimes, including multiple surgeries (including the ground breaking removal of her sternum last year), chemotherapies and radiotherapy. Sonja has been through the mill over many years, however this disease has never affected her incredible capacity for love, faith, and her sheer determination to be well!
We believe that God:
Is a loving God who wants Sonja to be well, whole & healthy. He has sustained Sonja and our family through a long and tough battle and continues to do so! She has always been positive and believes she will finally win this battle with God and the help of many believing the same.
Where We Are Now:
Sonja has recently completed her most grueling chemotherapy treatment in July 2011, which was followed by surgery in October (just weeks before our daughter Aimee's wedding). The latest scans in December 2011 show rapid progression of disease. Our oncologist has recommended a new treatment regime consisting of two parts. The first part is a standard intravenous weekly chemotherapy called “Vinorelbine”, which is funded by our health system. The second part to supplement this is a daily dose of 5 tablets of a drug called “Tykerb Lapatinib Ditosylate” which unfortunately is not funded by the Health System. This drug has shown good results overseas and is similar to Herceptin in that it fights cancer for people who have Metastatic HER2 breast cancer (which is the type of cancer Sonja has). The cost associated with this drug to us as a family will be just under $38,000 ($NZD).
How You Can Help:
We hope to raise $38,000 which will cover this unfunded treatment and any contribution towards this goal you can provide would be gratefully appreciated. Please note, we are not a registered charity so will be unable to issue tax receipts.
Please contact us by email at fivekellys@vodafone.co.nz if you like details on how to make a donation.
We hope to raise $38,000 which will cover this unfunded treatment and any contribution towards this goal you can provide would be gratefully appreciated. Please note, we are not a registered charity so will be unable to issue tax receipts.
Please contact us by email at fivekellys@vodafone.co.nz if you like details on how to make a donation.
Other information:
Any funds raised in excess of the required amount will be kept in the above account in case any further unfunded treatment is required. If not we will then work with the “Sweet Louise Foundation” (A great charitable trust set up in NZ to help women and their families coping with secondary breast cancer - http://www.sweetlouise.co.nz) to find another woman in a similar situation.
I have set up a blog (http://keepingsonjawell.blogspot.com) which we will keep updated on Sonja’s progress to being well. We will also update on how we are tracking to achieve the required funds.
With our love and sincere thanks,
Denis, Sonja, Aimee, Kane, Rachel, & Timothy (and Jet our dog)
Any funds raised in excess of the required amount will be kept in the above account in case any further unfunded treatment is required. If not we will then work with the “Sweet Louise Foundation” (A great charitable trust set up in NZ to help women and their families coping with secondary breast cancer - http://www.sweetlouise.co.nz) to find another woman in a similar situation.
I have set up a blog (http://keepingsonjawell.blogspot.com) which we will keep updated on Sonja’s progress to being well. We will also update on how we are tracking to achieve the required funds.
With our love and sincere thanks,
Denis, Sonja, Aimee, Kane, Rachel, & Timothy (and Jet our dog)
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