My sister, Victoria, is currently undergoing treatment for an incredibly rare type of Cancer. Victoria lives in New Zealand with her husband, Ryan, and young daughter, Ruby. Unfortunately, in New Zealand, the drug she needs is not funded and it is costing her over $5000 to stay alive.

Victoria was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2021 after being rushed to hospital with stomach pains and suspected appendicitis in late 2020. She had previously been diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013 at the age of 33. The routine scans taken before her scheduled appendectomy in 2020 showed 4 lumps on her heart; something she and her doctors never expected to see. Through further scans and a biopsy, with several doctors from the UK and America helping with the research, it was determined that Victoria had 4 cancerous tumours growing on her heart. Following this diagnosis, and despite several months of immunotherapy that followed, the cancers grew and a fifth appeared within her heart muscle later in 2021.

Thankfully, in late 2021, Victoria began a new treatment of Dabrafenib and Trametinib, which are daily pills that have had positive results by shrinking her tumours to date. Side effects mean that she is unable to take these every day, but there has so far been some success in halting the growth and, in some cases, reducing the rate of growth of her tumours. Unfortunately, a heart transplant has been ruled out by doctors both here in the UK and in New Zealand as heart transplants are not given to cancer patients.

As we are sure you can appreciate, $5500 of fees for lifelong medication is simply impossible to self-fund. Victoria, her husband and Ruby are actively looking at all options, including a move back to the UK where the NHS maybe able to provide the medication free-of-charge. This, however, takes time and a lot of money for visas, flights and relocation, not-to-mention the medication each month in the meantime.

We are therefore raising money to help fund Victoria’s medication and assist with the costs associated with her illness. All proceeds raised through this site, which includes the sale of kindling supplied by Gloucestershire Gardens, will be spent on Victoria’s medication to help her stay alive and fight this terrible illness.