Pimlico mum Skye Furnell given shock ovarian and bladder cancer diagnoses
It is every mother’s worst nightmare sitting in a hospital waiting room hoping not to hear the dreaded word starting with the letter “C”.
Townsville
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It is every mother’s worst nightmare sitting in a hospital waiting room hoping not to hear the dreaded word starting with the letter “C”.
Skye Furnell’s life was turned upside down on New Year’s Day when, out of the blue, she discovered a lump in her stomach.
After a biopsy she was told she had an aggressive form of stage two ovarian cancer known as dysgerminoma and was rushed to Brisbane for surgery on January 7.
Her ovary was removed and as she lay in a hospital bed for six days after the surgery vomiting from the powerful drugs she was taking, Ms Furnell was told the cancer had also spread to her bladder.
The young mum is about to undergo three rounds of chemotherapy at the Townsville University Hospital starting on February 24.
The 31-year-old is mother to 10-year-old Jonty and seven-year-old Quinn, who she has been completely honest with about her battle with cancer.
Despite the shock diagnosis, Ms Furnell is trying to remain calm.
“The last month of my life has been fast and emotional but you just have to be positive about these things,” she said.
“I think I am still in shock. I haven’t really processed anything. My thoughts have just gone straight to the kids and keeping their lives as normal as possible.”
Ms Furnell is petrified about how she will keep the family afloat while she is unable to work at her administration job during her minimum three 21-day chemo rounds.
The family bought their first home in October last year and are worried they will not keep up with their mortgage payments after finding out Ms Furnell did not have income protection built into her superannuation.
Her husband Dylan Furnell is taking extended sick leave from his job to be there for his family while Ms Furnell undergoes chemo.
The Pimlico family know they have a long road ahead of them and are grateful for the support they have received.
>>Ms Furnell’s friend Tara Evans has created a Gofundme page to raise money for the family. See www.gofundme.com/f/dx4d7d-20000
Originally published as Pimlico mum Skye Furnell given shock ovarian and bladder cancer diagnoses
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