Introduction

Sarvs Falefitu is a 40year old NZ born, Auckland bred Samoan/ Niuean. Sarvs is mother to four teenagers (Kroydon 19 years, Denae 16 years, Kendra 14 years, Grayson 13 years) and has been married to her 'Samoan warrior' for 19 1/2 years.



My gals, Denae (left) & Kendra

My boyz, Grayson (left) and Kroydon

I have breast cancer and so...

This blog has been created in the hopes that I could raise awareness of this 'evil influence that spreads dangerously', according to Collins English Dictionary, Compact Edition, to fundraise to cover the majority of my Herceptin treatment and hopefully this might help other women even in the tiniest way who might be living and dealing to breast cancer also.
I have Grade 2, HER2 positive type cancer and my cancer has moved away from the primary spot and invaded other parts of my body via my lymph vessels and blood vessels. Along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy I will also need Herceptin. NZ only funds Herceptin for 9 weeks but a full 12 months is recommended. I have opted to take the recommended 12 months and it will cost exactly $96,273.60. While some specialists are 'comfortable' with 9 weeks of Herceptin, I am not. I want to attend my teenagers graduations. I need to wave them goodbye when they go on their OE's. I wish to witness them all walk down the aisles, be present at the births of my grandchillens and finally do my big OE with my hubby too - of course without the grandchillens!!! Clearly I have far too much to live for and I implore anyone with time to please support my fundraisers or send any fundraising ideas our way.
Your support will make a lasting difference to my quality of life and I sincerely thank you all in advance for your love and support.

Accolades

Sarvs wishes to acknowledge the amazing staff at St Marks Clinic who at the early days of her breast cancer diagnosis helped and coached her through one of the darkest days of her life.Thank you Michelle, Beverley, Jenny, Tracey, the wonderful surgeons Stephen and Stan. Most importantly Sarvs would like to acknowledge 'Johnny' for having the foresight to establish a beautiful haven such as St Marks Clinic many years ago for women such as herself.



Breakdown of Herceptin costs

Since day dot Dr Mike McCrystal my oncologist has been apologetic of the horrendous Herceptin costs for HER2+ women. Nothing to apologise about Mike it is out of your hands and ours however look closely at what Pharmac and NZ Government are blissfully content in handing to a cancer patient and their loved ones -

Loading dose cost: (1 loading treatment)
Drug cost, delivery (+GST) 500mg $7018.65
Nursing $250.00
Medical $350.00
Consumables $35.00
Hospital charge $100.00
GST $969.20
Sub-total $8722.85 for loading dose at 8mg/kg

Maintenance dose cost: (13 maintenance treatments)
Drug cost, delivery (+GST) 370mg $5251.35
Nursing $250.00
Medical $350.00
Consumables $350.00
Hospital charge $100.00
GST $748.30
Total $6734.65 maintenance dose at 6mg/ kg
Overall total for full course: $96,273.60

So dealing with the diagnosis of breast cancer, losing a breast, having major surgery, being put through chemo treatment, being hospitalised 3 times, going through radiotherapy, getting through the remission period, dealing with the emotional side of this all and then having to fundraise endlessly for Herceptin do you think Pharmac or NZ Government have the right to play God with our lives?!!

26 June 2008

Our Variety Fundraiser Concert

Leading up to our Variety Fundraiser Concert I was a frantic nutcase - and I was not even performing! My speech OMG sucked...LOL...but that was because I was still being a nutcase but at least I was being a bit quieter...!!!

In hindsight this is was going to be my Oscar award winning screech, oops I mean speech -
Thank you to all who gave up the Saturday night footy, the comforts of their homes on a cold and wet night to share this evening and to support my fight with breast cancer.
A dear old friend once said that cancer is not about me but about our family and friends. That was so profound that I have not forgotten her words because the reason why I stand here tonight is to fight to survive so that I can continue to make memories for them; memories that I am entitled to make as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend etc etc etc.
To my family, I am dearly grateful for you all. Much alofa's, you will never really know.
To my friends old and new, thank you for being here to share another milestone in my life; a special mention to my friends who travelled from Whangarei and Palmerston North, how blessed am I to have such support in you all.
Our beautiful PI MC and gifted artists, who I know will rock your socks off, thank you thank you for giving up your time to be here tonight. Most of you I don't know from a bar of soap, you are all amazing.
To my dear friend Saylene our stage manager and her partner Pat, you guys are just freaking awesome coz I wouldn't have a clue!! Thank you for taking that daunting task away from us!!
To Marama and crew from Tagata Pasifika, the opportunity to capture this I am grateful for!!
My wonderfully patient committee, for pushing me, encouraging me and helping me keep it together, words just are never ever enough, fa'afetai mo le alofa!!
To my darling husband and chillens, this will all be a distant memory one day however because we are all here to make it a treasured memory, this fight will be worth it in the end. I love you so very much.
I know you will enjoy this talented line up tonight, please enjoy with us!!
Thank you.

My heavy metal/ rocker mate from Whangarei who brought his lovely family down for the concert and sacrificed the All Blacks game said that not only did they 'sooooooo enjoy the concert' but he took away with him the fact that media waste too much time on youth gangs and youth crimes when the flip side to all that was the awesome talent (from west, north and south) that was being showcased in Kelston for a stranger they had not met who was fighting breast cancer.

Thank you to my cousin Efu Koka (who is running for councillor for Otara as a Labour candidate- VOTE FOR EFU KOKA hey what are family for aye...!!) who asked Su'a William Si'o to be our guest speaker. Fa'afetai Su'a William Si'o.
Lastly, thank you to our very old friend Iate who weathered the cold and wet to stand security for us for free - YOU ROCK OUR TONGAN BROTHER!!!

The gorgeously witty Yolande Ah Chong our MC for the night with Pili Apulu (left)

Pili and friends



Above: The Roadies


The Alofa Tunoa Ministry Band



Our southside brothers, Cydel



Kelston's own Polytentials



Betty Anne and Friends (centre, Florence - didn't know you were part of the "Friends" hahaha)

Ash (centre) with her blues mates



Allegro and Grace Ikenasio (second from left)

Pacific song bird Grace Ikenasio who lifted the roof off with her finale song Listen by Beyonce

During intermission we sold beautiful cupcakes (pictured above) made by the CakeMaker (http://www.4goodnesscake.blogspot.com/), yummy pork buns made by my mother inlaw, scrumptious puni popo or coconut buns made by my Aunty Fatima and other delicious baked goods by Lily Huch and Margs friend who baked those beautiful as carrot cakes!!! Thanks so much!!

PS: all the funds raised from the concert has been stashed in a cash box and the keys were handed to me. I placed the keys in a really safe place. So safe that I can't find them at the moment and the more I panick about not finding the keys the more I spiral into the world of amnesia! When I find the key I will count the funds again and post it on my blog...!!!

NB: aha, found the keys and the cash is safely stashed in the Herceptin account..!

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Anonymous said...

Well FOB I have to say - it was thoroughly an awesome night - truly a variety concert which we ALL enjoyed with so so much talent but all for YOU...if that ain't love from one human being to another - I don't know what is...but I do know it's all about supporting YOU on your journey FOB and that we will never give up on!! To see the hearts of strangers (who yes, some don't know you from a bar of soap); still come with their hearts and love in supporting the Variety Concert for YOU and whom I know were so honoured to just "meet you" FOB, shows just how much your "fight for life" to fundraise for your Herceptin treatment is what it's all about...a "fight" that you are not alone, but that people from all walks of life hear/see and know about you...brings us all closer to you each day and to walk with you on your journey my old friend (lol)! So when those days are rough riding FOB..and those damn drugs haven't "kicked in" (lol)...know you are NEVER ALONE no matter how or what you're feeling at that moment in time...and that we all LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEARTS...like the awesome "performers" that gave up their time to give back to help you in your fundraising for your treatment - God bless their hearts and all the hearts of EVERYONE that supported your concert - stay strong ma FOB friend for life...(your "old" friend from da good old days-hehe)- FOBS 4 LIFE - much alofas sis!!!

July 1, 2008 at 6:45 AM

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