I was just 18 and had finished school the previous year. My start of my first year studying Physiotherapy at the University of Queensland was great fun. I was working a number of different part-time jobs, tutoring and really enjoying meeting new friends, as well as catching up with old school mates. Being the youngest of 3 children, my parents were entering a different phase with no school sport on Saturdays. They had luckily returned from an overseas holiday with friends the month before my diagnosis.
I was having regular routine blood tests due to my acne medication. The medication was doing well and my skin was improving. The dermatologist contacted me at Uni and told me the devastating news that I had Leukaemia. Thankfully he knew someone at the hospital and I was told to drive straight there and they were ready to admit me. That was the start of my new journey. Life changing day.
I have been fortunate to have fantastic medical care. All of the staff were professional and so kind. We don't live far from the hospital which was fortunate. During one of my rounds of chemo, I developed a heart valve infection. This meant daily hospital visits for 5 weeks. When I heard of the actual cost of all of the medication and hospital treatment, I realised how lucky I was to be treated here in Australia.
It was easier for me to lose my hair as 19 of my school friends shaved in support. We have been so lucky to have friends and family supporting us. Meals were delivered on a regular, rostered basis to our home. Friends would drop in to visit whilst at hospital, and past teachers and parents also came to see me. When I didn't feel like seeing anyone, they also understood and gave me my space. I was fortunate enough to be able to defer my University exams and sit them later in my treatment cycle. The University enabled me to attend my exams so that I was socially isolated whilst immuno-compromised. Thankfully I passed all of my exams and was able to stay with my cohort.
There has been so much generosity with friends setting up web pages, newspapers and TV stations running stories , strangers offering assistance and billboards donated all around Australia. Celebrities and politicians have joined in the drive to promote my plight.The hope is that more people register to be stem cell donors. I need a Eurasian donor but the more people who register, the more chance everyone has of finding a matching donor.