They say it comes in 3's, and our 3rd one just hit.

In December 2021, I received life-changing news that forever altered the course of my life: I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The shock of this revelation was profound, and I quickly realized that my path ahead would be filled with uncertainty and challenges.

A couple of months later, in February 2022, our world was turned upside down once more. The devastating floods in Lismore ravaged our community, sweeping away everything we held dear—our cherished home and our thriving Furniture Wiz business. The emotional toll from this disaster was immense, as we grappled with both the loss of our physical possessions and the stability that came with our business.

Fast forward to November 2024, and we faced yet another heartbreaking challenge when my partner, Lindsy, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma—a rare and aggressive form of cancer that predominantly affects children. It’s disheartening to recognize that only about 1% of adults ever encounter this illness, highlighting the cruel twist of fate we find ourselves enduring.

Despite the turmoil, we have always been fighters. I am grateful to share that I am in remission from my tumor, and after months of hard work, we are slowly starting to rebuild our business. However, Lindsy's diagnosis has left us feeling completely overwhelmed and anxious about what lies ahead.

Over the next 12 months, Lindsy will require our unwavering support as he undergoes a rigorous treatment plan, which includes chemotherapy, surgery, and additional therapies. These treatments are to be administered by the specialised Sarcoma team at the PA Hospital in Brisbane, necessitating frequent travel. We will be making the emotional and physical journey to Brisbane every two weeks, often for treatment sessions that last up to a week, along with various tests that will need to be conducted during our visits.

The financial strain of this situation is significant. We anticipate that our accommodation costs in Brisbane will exceed a thousand dollars each month. While IPTAAS (the Isolated Patient Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme) provides some relief, it only covers a fraction of our total accommodation expenses, leaving us to manage a substantial gap in our budget.

In addition to the accommodation costs, we are struggling to keep up with our mortgage payments, especially in light of Lindsy losing his income during this time. As I shift my focus to caring for him full-time, my own earnings have also decreased, adding to our financial burdens. Although our business is continuing to operate with the support of our dedicated two staff members, we are acutely aware that they can only do so much to help us return to the level we were at before the floods disrupted our lives.

In light of our situation, we are reaching out for compassion and support from our community. We are humbly asking for donations to help alleviate the mounting costs of travel and lodging for Lindsy’s necessary treatment in Brisbane. Additionally, any assistance to help offset the lost wages we will face during this challenging time would be invaluable to us and would provide much-needed relief.

If you find yourself unable to donate, please know that we deeply appreciate your kindness in sharing our message and extending your positivity and support to both Lindsy and me during this extraordinarily difficult chapter in our lives. Your encouragement and compassion mean the world to us, and we thank you for being a vital source of strength as we navigate this journey together.