Help Danielle receive alternate treatment and beat Cancer

Back in June 2014 Danielle was complaining of abdominal pains which were persistent and showed no signs of letting up. After several visits to Dr's Danielle was deemed to have Diverticulitis, which is a bowel disease. After this diagnosis Danielle was given a course of antibiotics, which for some time gave relief and appeared to be helping.

Not long after, the pain came back and was a little more aggressive. Despite x-rays and the usual examinations the Dr's were still of the belief that they were on the right track with the initial diagnosis.

Finally in October, when the pain was not letting up, the Dr's decided that a biopsy was the best option.

The news that followed the biopsy result was totally shattering....bowel cancer. From that moment on our lives were turned upside down.

The decision was made that an operation was needed and needed soon. November 18th 2014 was the day of the operation with the expectation that chemotherapy would follow soon after.

Due to post operative complications Danielle had to stay in hospital until Christmas Eve and Chemo was delayed until January 2015.

With a relaxing Christmas and new year over with and spending time with our two young children, Danielle was ready to start chemo and attack her stage 3 cancer.

Chemo was going well, or as well as can be expected if you count constant nausea and tiredness as going well.

But, as has happened since Danielle's initial pains, this cancer was yet to kick Danielle in the teeth once more.

We all thought that chemo was doing what it should and that Danielle was turning a corner for the better. But, the pains came back, and after a CT scan we were given the news we never saw coming. The cancer had come back, to two lymph nodes and on her tenth rib. But just to twist that knife a little more we are told there is no operation available for this and that things were terminal.

To give up is not an option. We have two beautiful young children, Isaiah 9 and Amèlie aged 6. They are too young to loose their loving mother and at 36, their mother is too young to leave them.

So, we are looking at alternate treatments, in particular intravenous vitamin C and are making drastic nutrition changes. The vitamin C treatment is expected to last for a minimum of 6 months. The cost of the vitamin C treatment is between $8,000 & $10,000 plus there are the cost associated with this treatment along the way such as blood tests (Which are sent overseas for testing). On top of the intravenous vitamin C treatment, Danielle will also need to take an high dose oral vitamin C gel, which is also not funded by the health system.

We are certainly grateful that the public health system funds most of the costs, however prescription medicine, of which there is loads, is not totally funded.

We also want to fulfil our plans to get married, now sooner than what we had planned. It was hoped that we would have a quiet, romantic wedding overseas some time in 2016, however as we don't know how Danielle will feel health wise from one month to the next we have decided to marry here in NZ and share the moment with as many friends as we can. We are certainly not wanting a large wedding, opting for something more intimate but equally memorable. For those who have had weddings, you will be aware of the cost involved.

In spite of Danielle being a very private person, we have been totally overwhelmed by the support and generosity of friends and strangers alike. It is a very humbling experience and to thank everyone for the kindness and words of encouragement would be impossible, so, in advance.....

Thank you