Andrea Fairbairn
Meet Andrea Fairbairn (centre). Born in Paraparaumu, she works at a Government Department in Wellington.
Last year, on her 39th birthday, Andrea's world turned upside down during a routine appointment with her GP, Dr Susanna Kent. A breast check and mammogram showed she had early-stage HER2+ breast cancer. "I didn't have a lump, in fact I didn't feel anything at all so I would never have suspected for a moment I would have breast cancer," she says. "Dr Kent saved my life for which I’m so grateful."
The cost of Andrea's first nine weeks of Herceptin treatment was met by the Government leaving her to cope with the upset to every aspect of her life and the total fatigue that comes with cancer treatment. But the financial pressure was to come - she needed to find $70,000 to finish her prescribed treatment.
Friends, family and colleagues went to work and set up a fund organising movie nights and dinners with many people opting to make an automatic payment of $20 of a fortnight. "It all adds up, but putting yourself out there and accepting money from people is difficult," says Andrea. "I'm so appreciative of everyone."
Now nearing the end of her treatment Andrea is exhausted and so is her fund. She'd bought her first house just prior to being diagnosed and, although she's had it on the market since she knew of the bills she would be facing, it has failed to sell.
She needs one last burst of assistance and on Andrea's behalf, we at Skip For Life, would like to ask you for support to get this message out to the Wellington community.