Katie Rowell's Big Cancer Fight

Hi, I am Bec and I am putting this GoFund Me together to raise funds for my Sister whilst she continues her big big fight against Cancer. Kit is the youngest of the two of us, and we have an amazing younger brother that rounds out the sibling count.

Kate and her husband Ray, live with their three young girls in the Hunter region just outside of Matiltand NSW.

Kate and Ray made the move to this beautiful part of the world in 2017, to make a better life for their family.

Kate dedicates her time between her family, her work as a Social worker and her love of all things Netball and the local netball club West Rutherford. If you work in HNE LHD mental health services, or you or your family have played Netball around the area, I am sure you know Kate by sight.

Kate was diagnoised Mid 2023 with Acute Myloid Lukemia (AML) and the fight of her life commenced.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. AML is not a single disease. It is the name given to a group of leukaemias that develop in the myeloid cell line in the bone marrow. Each year in Australia around 900 people are diagnosed with AML. Overall AML is rare disease, accounting for 0.8% of all cancers diagnosed. https://www.leukaemia.org.au/blood-cancer/leukaemia/

Normaly, Chemotherapy is the main form of treatment for AML. Initially the aim of treatment is to destroy leukaemic cells and induce a remission. Unfortunately for Kate, her diagnosis wasnt 'favourable' and this meant that the treatment jouney would be more than "just" chemo.

It would led us to requiring a Stem Cell Transplant , or Bone Marrow Transplant.

The best chance of getting a donor for the transplant is through your immediate family. We were not the match we hoped we would be. Instead, an amazingly selfless young person in Germany was found to be a match. The gift that he gave will forever be a debt we can not repay.

In July 2023, kate had to stop work to start the battle of her life. She has undergone in total four rounds of Chemo, three were at the Mater in Newcaslte, and the last round was right on top of the transplant was here in Sydney at Westmead Hospital.

In November 2023, Kate came to Sydney to commence treatment at Westmead Hospital. 

Treatment would be completed as an inpatient and during that time, Kate was going to be away and separated from her family... From Ray and the girls. A first for the family with kate never having been seperated from her girls.

Ray was needed to be at home for the girls, meaning travel to sydney to visit was highly restricted and difficult. If visiting was possible, the two youngest of the three children would not be permitted onto the Transplant unit.

Having sat with kate nearly every day of her admissions, and watched her battle feircely against this cancer, I can without doubt say she is one of the most strongest humans I have ever met. This is not a battle you would wish on anyone. On 8 December 2023, I was able to bust this amazing human out of hospital and get her home.

Well, home with me for the remainder of the treatment until the all clear could be given to get home to Rutherford, Ray and the girls. 

Christmas would be here in Sydney, another first for the family having to be seperated from kate. Kate is still here with me in Sydney, over three months now completely seperated from the family.

Since the inital diagnosis in June /July 2023, there has been an amazing level of love and support for Kate, Ray and the girls. Many many people have asked Kate and Ray how they could help out in any way. The meals made, care packages recieved and beautiful words and messages sent have been so very very much apprecaited.

Now I need to ask for help on their behalf.

Financially, things are now very tough. Losing an income has taken it's toll. Ongoing travel to and from Sydney, costs of treatment, increased need for childcare costs and importantly, the treatment medication and tests that are not covered under medicare etc. keeps adding up.

Recently the family have had some finacial set backs that mean that on top of the health battle kate is going through, there is now more stress and worry that is impacting her journey.

If you can help in any way, any donation amount will go towards helping Kate, Ray and the girls during this time before Kate is on her way back to work and fully recovered.

All funds raised go to Kate, and will ensure that she has all the support needed to keep fighting without furhter stress and anxiety and worry. This is a long battle. And any help we can give Kate, is going to go a long way.

Kate has always, always given so much of her self for anyone who needed help, a friendly ear to listen, a sholder to provide support. She is the most amazing social worker and gives everything to her peers at work, and the individuals she meets day in day out at work. As a mum she is next level. Nothing is ever too hard or too much for her girls. Kate loves her netball, and I can state that having met her team she coached last year, and the love that the kids had for her, this is also an aspect of kate's life where she is loved and respected for who she is and what she brings to the table each and every day.

Now I would love to have her know just how much we do support her and this is one way we can do that, and maybe relieve a little bit of that stress and burden at this time to keep her recovery from this battle with cancer a little easier.

Please reach out to me (or Ray) and ask any questions you may have. Kate and Ray and the girls will be eternally grateful for the support and assistance.

Lets do this for Kit!