Carlie's Crusade to Kick Cancer

Hi everyone! My name is Bel and I’m helping to fundraise for Carlie.

Here’s a little bit about Carlie. Carlie 33 years young, is a mother of three beautiful girls aged 1, 4 and 8. She is a wife to Mitch Carey, a friend, a colleague and one of the most amazing people to enter your life! Carlie’s smile will light up a room and put your troubles at ease. Carlie’s compassion and love for her family is bigger than life itself. Carlie will always put others first and herself second.

This is the time we all need to put Carlie first.

Carlie was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma on her tongue in April 2023, and this came as a complete shock.

In a few short months and after multiple appointments, a surgery date was locked in. The best course of action directed by her medical team was aggressive surgery. The surgery involved removing a large portion of Carlie's tongue and lymph nodes that was then reconstructed using the flesh from her arm.

The first surgery was undertaken, the affected tongue area was removed, and Carlie was left with a 4cm hole on the side of her tongue, reconstructed with flesh from her left arm. The lymph nodes were also removed.

The reconstruction did not take, so a second surgery was scheduled. This was also unsuccessful, and an infection occurred. A third surgery was scheduled, and Carlie was put into an induced coma to help support her body to heal. Following this third surgery, the reconstruction tongue finally held.

Carlie was in ICU for two weeks, unable to see her three beautiful children. She is missing their hugs, their smell and their bigger than life energy.

There was a glimmer of hope, a small ray of sunshine .. until today when Carlie was informed that there is a need to undergo six weeks of radiation. Her medical team is currently reviewing and designing a treatment plan.

Long term, Carlie will also require ongoing physiotherapy, as the surgery has impacted nerves in her neck and left arm, and a speech pathologist to assist with speaking and eating challenges.

Carlie was due to return to work following her maternity leave. Her return will be significantly delayed, furthering the unexpected financial impact.

Carlie is always the first to make a meal or a donation or pick up a child for any of her friends. We’d like to make sure our support for her is coordinated, exactly what they need or request, and not overwhelming.

By creating this GO-Fund me page, we are looking to ease the financial burden on Carlie's family. To make life that little bit easier, to support Carlie's long road to recovery and show her three beautiful girl's that their lives can look normal again.

Thanks for your support,

Bel