Sat 25 Apr 2015 In: Our Communities View at Wayback View at NDHA
One of our favourite front-women, Suzi Fray from The Johnnys, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which she’s been told is incurable. But she is an optimist and needs the community’s help to fly to Germany for alternative treatment. You can donate here Suzi Fray writes on Givealittle: I have been diagnosed with a very rare type of uterine cancer that has now spread to my lungs. I have been told it is Stage 4 and incurable, but I am an optimist who has much to live for and I believe in the power of love to heal. With your help I hope to fly to Germany and embark on an alternative healing approach that instinctively feels right to me. A bit about me : I feel very lucky to have lived a large part of my adult life as a musician and for the last 4 years I have been privileged to front The Johnnys, the world’s only all female Johnny Cash Band, an inspiring musical project with two great gals, Liala and Jo, that has taken me on a wild journey of joy and self discovery. In 2012 we played at the Johnny Cash Festival in California, sharing the stage with the Queen of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson, and were even endorsed by Cindy Cash herself. Just recently I met my soul mate and we are engaged to be married. I have the most delightful, adorable daughter who is only 3 ½ and also co-parent my partner’s two other children aged 5 and 7. In the later part of last year I was experiencing intense uterus/abdominal pain and bleeding as well as unusual and unrelenting fatigue. My GP told me this was the beginning of menopause and I was put on a course of hormone medication to attempt to regulate my menstrual cycle. On Jan 6th I was admitted to emergency with hemorrhaging and extreme pain to the point of vomiting and unconsciousness. A subsequent ultra sound revealed a large fibroid in my uterus that was thought to be very common and usually benign. Six weeks later I had a routine hysterectomy to remove the troublesome fibroid. Pathology then revealed that the fibroid was in fact a Leiomyosarcoma tumour, a very rare type of uterine cancer. A CT scan then showed that the cancer has already spread to my lungs and it is Stage 4....a secondary cancer and the worst stage there is. On Monday 23 March the oncologist delivered the devastating news that this rare type of cancer I have is incurable and that there is only at best a 50% chance that chemotherapy could slow down the progression of the disease. Since the terminal diagnosis I have been in shock and have felt like I am drowning in my grief and uncertainty. I have never cried so much in my life and have been bewildered as to how to face this and still somehow enjoy my wonderful life. My fiancé is the most beautiful loving person I could ever dream of and together we have three beautiful children. I want to live. I want to see our children grow up, watch them running in a race on sports day, singing in the school choir and hear them laughing and playing in the sea in summer. My love for my children, my fiancé, my family and friends and living life has lead me on a determined journey to seek hope and healing in alternative therapies to treat my cancer. The Johnnys, Suzi's band After much research and synchronicity I discovered the Arcadia Cancer Clinic in Germany offers a range of treatments that instinctively feel right for me. Arcadia provide alternative cancer treatments including full body hyperthermia, intravenous oxygen therapy and High Dose Vitamin C Infusions to name a few. So I now need to raise $80,000 towards the costs of travel, one month’s intensive residential treatment and taking my fiancé with me for support. It’s been 4 weeks now since being told I have a terminal illness...and yesterday learnt that my cancer only affects 4 in a million women, wow what odds! I am resolved to living through this…..wellness is the only outcome for me. I am a mother, a soul mate, a sister, a daughter and a friend...I also believe I am connected to you all and my purpose here is to love, be loved and to be kind. I want to thank all of my people, my tribe of wonderful souls for your incredible generosity and love and your unfaltering belief in my ability to overcome this mountainous life challenge. I am truly blessed. Thanks for your support. You can help Suzi get to Germany by donating here Suzi Fray via Giveallittle - 25th April 2015
Credit: Suzi Fray via Giveallittle
First published: Saturday, 25th April 2015 - 10:59am