Will to Live

Wilhelmina Van der Aa goes by many names: Wilhelmina, Mama, Mina, Willow, Wils, Mama Wil which reflects just how far and wide she is known and loved.

She is the adored wife of Charles and devoted Mama to her 4 amazing daughters, Sacha (14), Alayna (12), Freya (9) and Aurelia (7). Much loved sister and aunt, cherished friend and neighbourhood crusader. She's also a second mum, Mama Wil to her many past and present Porse children.

Her life has always been about people, from nursing those with end-stage cancer, to psycho-therapy training, to her current role as a Porse Educator, she is devoted to helping and supporting others both in her career and personal life.

In November 2014, her life changed forever. A lump was discovered in her right breast. After various ultrasounds, MRIs and CAT scans, one lump turned out to be five and involved her lymph nodes, plus two more were found in her left breast, although Wilhelmina was told they were 99% sure the left side was nothing.

On 23rd December, just two days before Christmas, she got the final diagnosis. After a lot of frustrating back and forth it was confirmed: Ductal Carcinoma in Situ in her right breast, a very aggressive cancer with lymph node involvement and Ductal Carcinoma Tubular in her left breast. Then just to add some more fun, Wilhelmina was also told about a 'slightly suspect' Haemangioma (abnormal collection of blood vessels) on her liver which they were again 99% sure was nothing.

A treatment plan was put in place for surgery in January 2015, a bilateral mastectomy and removal of the affected lymph nodes. After further discussion, they decided against immediate surgery in lieu of 6 months chemotherapy to reduce the tumours and then review for the surgery. This would also help to confirm diagnosis of the liver Haemangioma. If this beastie shrunk, it would confirm it was also cancer. If not, they were in the clear.

For the next six months Wilhelmina endured chemotherapy and all that came with it - nausea and vomiting, hair loss, weight gain, general feelings of fogginess - all while continuing in her role as Porse Educator. Charles also gained his Porse Educator qualifications, just to help ease her burden. She has often been heard to say, 'The children will be my cure'.

On 25th May, Charles and Wilhelmina's wedding anniversary, she had an abdominal scan by chance. The next day was her routine surgeon appointment for her surgery plan. All looked good, the tumours had shrunk and it looked better than expected. However, the abdominal scan showed her liver tumour had also shrunk. Her worst fears were confirmed, the cancer had spread from her breast to liver. This means there's no point in operating. Her surgeon even said, 'Taking your breasts off would not extend your life any longer'. Also, because of the location of the tumour on Wilhelmina's liver, it's not operable. Currently her doctor's plan is to wait and see...wait for bulges and growths to appear out of her skin, getting smelly, then they can be lopped off. Her oncologist said, 'I don't know what to do with you". The Cancer Society were very kind, however when asked how they can help, they could only offer counselling. Wilhelmina is not interested in getting 'help to die', it's not her style nor is it helpful to her. So she has said in true style, 'I will heal myself' and that's what she intends to do....look at every alternative available, but unfortunately, it all costs. She is currently researching a full range of options. Vitamin C therapy, Oxygenation therapy, even the Arcadia Clinic in Germany. She has made significant lifestyle changes to do what she can, eating vegan, meditation, exercise, kinesiology and Chinese medicine. She has not been given an indication of her time left, it could be 2 years, it could be 30 years - Wilhelmina intends to make it the latter.

She desperately wants to live...she has so much to live for and so many people want and need her to stay around! Well, now it's time to get some of that support she has given all her life, given back to her. She was initially against this page being set up - it didn't sit well with her. But as time has gone on, treatments have been suffered through and it's taken a toll on her, she's realised that some help to ease at least the financial burden would be worthwhile.

Please spare a few dollars when you can so this amazing family can have a little relief as they go through this journey. Wilhelmina has promised to send through updates and we will keep this page updated.

Thank you