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Abi Flynn raised £36,347.92 from 1074 supporters
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Closed 29/09/2018
Iʼve raised £36,347 to Help Abi stay alive so she can continue to sing, share her story and spread love to the world!
- Brighton, United Kingdom
- Funded on Saturday, 29th September 2018
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Story
Hello lovely people,
My name is Abi. I'm a 27 year old professional singer from Brighton, England. I know people don't normally write their own bio’s on here, but my journey over the past year has been such an extraordinary one and I feel it is important for me to reach out first-hand and share from my heart what I desperately need your help with!
Just over a year ago, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of blood cancer common in younger people, presenting as a large 11cm tumour in my chest cavity, pressing up against my lung when I sang. When I was first diagnosed, I was told the treatment should only be a straightforward 6 months on a very successfully proven chemo regime, but alas, my cancer has proven to be a unique and stubborn strand of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and here I am a year later finding myself at an interesting crossroads as the doctors continue to scratch their heads on how to tackle this tricky disease of mine!
My journey over the past year has been a truly remarkable one. I have been on three different chemotherapy regimes, in and out of hospital for weeks at a time. I have been through surgery, lost all of my hair, I have had to face losing my fertility as a naturally maternal 26 year old, my bloods have crashed so far that I couldn’t get up to move, I’ve had to cancel countless gigs,.
But I have also written more music than ever in my life. I have reconnected with people and formed amazing new relationships. I have laughed, cried, fought and surrendered more than I have ever done in 27 years of life. I have truly woken up to and savoured this world and all the beauty within it. With each challenging and seemingly impossible hurdle I’ve encountered, my soul has been cracked open and I have become more in touch with myself than ever before. I have started writing a blog which I one day hope to make into a book >> abiflynncancerblog.wordpress.com
On my up days I have continued to sing full time and work with amazing cancer charities to raise awareness and show people that they can shine their light on this world no matter what fate may come their way! And most importantly, I have found this to be my new calling. To heal others with my story, showing the world that there is nothing you can’t do if you keep your passion, spirit and remain true to yourself at all times. I have been recording lots of content in hospital to help raise my spirit and hopefully many others with my message, singing on chemo and the like! Here’s a video of me singing for Stand Up To Cancer UK!
At this time I find myself in a medical limbo, my next scan is in a month’s time, and we aren’t sure which road to take next. It could be radiotherapy, or immunotherapy, or both. Then there is the issue that radiotherapy is extremely risky for a woman of my age with a mass in the mediastinal (chest), due to high risks of breast cancer or other secondary cancers, as well as serious risk for heart and lung damage, so there is even a chance I will need to fund for a much safer, non-NHS treatment in Prague called 'Proton Therapy', but we'll cross that bridge if it comes to it. For now my main focus is reparing my body to keep fighting.
I have FOUR WEEKS to do everything I can do my end and treat my body amazingly before scan results - These results determine so much of my upcoming life and future, and how long-term my illness/side-effects will be. If I can get to remission in 4 weeks, I can have my transplant (potential cure) which would be amazing- the doctors don't think it possible but I do. Or if I can get at least close to remission, there's a chance I can avoid the harsh and dangerous effects of radiotherapy and life-long issues/secondary cancer.
I write this after having had a week in hospital following sepsis, induced by my last round of chemo (sod’s law!) which nearly killed me. I was extremely ill and under intensive care and my body has taken a real beating. After a year of chemo I can now see how much my body has deteriorated, despite my upbeat outlook. I am now determined to start repairing the damage made, before and alongside any future treatment as I carry on down this ambiguous road with cancer and trying to live life simultaneously, I feel I have an important mission to carry out to heal others, but this must begin with my own healing, and this is where I need your help.
There are so many things I want to raise money for so that I can carry out my new mission of uplifting others with my story and music and working with charities to raise awareness and funds for them. I have written an album of music about my journey and I would love to go to London to record it, and get many cancer charities involved with this. But first I must heal my body and as I have hardly been able to earn any money in my circumstances, and have needed to rely on holistic therapies to keep my body going -many of which I have had to stop in recent months due to no funds -I am starting this fundraiser to reach out for your help starting to repair my poor battered and poisoned body so I can continue the fight the disease with a strong defence! Unfortunately, cancer and healing is very expensive business!!
The target set is to cover a few things:
A Detox/healing retreat - Not only do I have cancer of the immune system, but I have been on extremely strong chemotherapy for a year now, causing my body and immune system to have been destroyed. My organs are poisoned and liver and kidneys in desperate need of detox so that they can work to heal my body of cancer. I have found some amazing detox retreats specific for cancer patients that aim to totally restore the body from the damage of chemotherapy so that it can begin to heal itself. They do this with a healthy, raw vegan alkaline diet or juicing, holistic therapies, daily colonic irrigations (cleaning out ya bum!) and mindfulness practises such as yoga and meditation. If I can do one of these before my weakened body has to take on any more harmful treatment, I feel it would make an enormous impact. Plus I haven't had a break from home and hospitals in the entire year this has been going on so I feel it would also impact my emotional wellbeing profoundly!
CBD oil usage (£160 a month) - Incredible THC free cannibis oil which works absolute wonders on all areas of the body; immune system, digestion, cognitive function (keeping a clear, healthy mind, helping with outlook), reducing inflammation, helping bloods regulate and many more things. Since being on it, even on the strongest chemo's, my body seemed to regenrate in many ways, my nails are very strong, my digestion went back to normal, I slept amazingly, it helped with anxiety hugely, etc.
Acupuncture every 2 weeks (£90 a month) and Chinese herbs (£140 a month) - I have found acupuncture to be incredible helpful in my healing, as well as the scientific purposes listed below, it is a traditional practise of Chinese medicine in helping the body’s energy centres allow energy or ‘Qi’ to flow, helping the body to retain balance and harmony, physically, emotionally and mentally. The Chinese herbs are extremely powerful immune system boosters which are also anti-cancer and have many magical powers when it comes to repairing a broken body, they generally pair with acupuncture for a powerful immune-syses boosting approach. I did this for my first 6 months after I initially raised funds and didn’t have a single side effect. Since, I haven’t been able to afford to keep it up but would really like to go back to it Below are medical benefits listed for acupuncture and cancer;
- Helps to minimize pain caused by cancer
- Manages the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy such as vomiting, nausea, poor appetite, weight loss, fatigue, depression, xerostomia (dry mouth), and anxiety
- Increases white blood cell count
- Improves immune and lymphocyte cell activity
Monthly Yoga Membership (£75 a month)- I had to stop my monthly yoga membership due to lack of funds and chemo causing me to be in hospital so often. Now that chemo is finished and before I start the next thing, I would love to be able to reinstate my membership. Yoga is an extremely powerful practise that connects body and mind, promoting a calm state from which one can heal. Physically it is also incredibly beneficial, it helps flush toxins from the body, helps the organs to do their job and stimulates the body’s natural cancer defences and boost the immune system. Also I just love it, it brings me so much joy.
other costs inclide many expensive taxi fares fonand from hospital and a general huge loss of earning/not being able to earn money
As you can see - there is so much that can truly, truly help me through this time and keep my body going so that I can carry out my mission to spread love and joy through adversity, and heal my body so it can cure itself of cancer, but it costs a lot of money. My plan is to heal myself of this cancer, and I know I can do it. And once I have, I will be doing so much work to heal others, to raise money for the root causes and help those with cancer myself. I have the potential and content to do this, I just need my health back, and your help is essential to me! I do not yet know if I am looking at months or years, so I have set the target high and anything left over will fund recording my album which will be made to uplift others and raise awareness, and I plan for a certain amount of proceeds from the album to go to cancer charities.
Thank you so much for reading, I have SO much love for you all and am brimming with gratitude for your support. I plan to keep you regularly updated with what I’m up to and my healing/musical journey on this page, and show you how far your wonderful support has gone!
And WHEN I’m in remission, I am going to be organising some amazing huge fundraising musical events for Macmillan and the like!
Lots of love,
Abi xx
insta: @abithesinger
Updates
3
- 7 years ago
Abi Flynn
7 years agoThank you all so so much for the info so far guys. I got some bad news Tuesday that the cancer is worse and I'm going to need to take on a lot of costly things going forward so I have raised the target! Can't tell you how much this is all helping me and I'm astounded at how fast I have raised this much. So far you have helped pay for a detox retreat, acupuncture, CBD oil and able & cole for juicing organic veg! It's all been healing to turn my general health around as my body gets weaker. Thank you so much. So much love, Abi xx
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- 7 years ago
Abi Flynn
7 years ago£5k raised already! I don't know how to thank you guys enough. The gift of peace of mind you have all given me is unparalleled. I'm back in hospital once again with this ongoing stubborn infection, and to be able to rest and heal without worrying so much about money is so wonderful. Now I'm so hoping I can still go on that healing retreat as planned, we shall see what doc says when my bloods come back. This last hurdle has been so tough, but your love and support Ian seeing me through! With so much love and gratitude, Abi xx
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- 7 years ago
Abi Flynn
7 years agoWOW. Over £3k in less than 24 hours, I can't tell you how touched I am by your support guys, it's unbelievable. I have already made my first target of being able to go on a detox/healing retreat next month. This makes mel so happy it brings tears to my eyes! After the most traumatic couple of weeks and my big scare, I was left so emotionally and physically broken, unable to work and so worried about money. I have since spent an entire day deeply relaxing and booked an amazing 4 day healing and relaxation break in 9 days time. THANK YOU! <3
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Abi Flynn started crowdfunding
Leave a message of support
Supporters
1074
Susan Edwards
Jul 27, 2018
All the best Abi xx
£10.00
Nicole McCloud
May 17, 2018
HOPE THIS HELPS❤️
£20.00
Lisa Bradley
May 9, 2018
💪🏻❤️
£10.00
Steve Corcoran
Apr 27, 2018
BIG LOVE!
£30.00
Anonymous
Apr 22, 2018
Keep smiling, wishing you all the best.
Anonymous
Apr 21, 2018
Thinking of you on your journey!
£5.00
Anonymous
Apr 16, 2018
Good Luck!
£20.00
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About CrowdfundingAbout the fundraiser
Abi Flynn
Brighton, United Kingdom
I'm a full time singer diagnosed with cancer a year ago. I have been on intensive chemo for a year and the journey continues but I have decided to use my journey to pioneer a movement of creativity and expression through adversity and continue to sing in hope of helping others.