22-year-old Melia Hinks from Magnetic Island battling acute Osteosarcoma cancer
Magnetic Island resident Melia Hinks still remembers supporting her mother during her cancer journey when she was young – now the 22-year-old is facing her own cancer battle. HER STORY >
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Magnetic Island resident Melia Hinks faced one of the darkest chapters of her life as a student as she helped her mother battle cancer - now, the disease has altered her life forever, again.
After supporting her mother in her fight against bowel cancer , the 22-year-old is now in a fight for her own life against a rare and aggressive illness that affects 200 Australians each year.
Diagnosed with acute osteosarcoma cancer in November last year, Ms Hinks said she and her family’s lives have been turned upside down once more.
“It’s been rough for the whole family,” she said.
“I was in school when my Mum had stage-four bowel cancer and she was an absolute fighter and she’s come out stronger than ever, she is about ten years clear now.”
The news of Melia’s cancer was yet another blow to the family, with her cancer diagnosis a heartbreaking discovery.
Ms Hinks said through everything, her mum is her inspiration.
“You have those moments where you go ‘why?’, ‘this is so unfair’, ‘how can this be happening again’. But she is my pillar and my absolute strength throughout this,” Ms Hinks said.
Osteosarcoma cancer is a bone cancer that is most commonly found in children and teenagers, which Ms Hinks she had never heard of until she was diagnosed.
“There’s not much awareness in the space of osteosarcoma ,” she said.
“I think that’s one good thing that has come out of this, if I am able to in any way big or small, is to create a voice for other people to be aware of ssteosarcoma and how quickly it can creep up on you.”
First noticing ‘random’ symptoms in October last year, Ms Hinks said the treatment began straight away once the cancer was discovered.
“My first instinct when diagnosed with something so life-changing is ‘what do I have to do?’,” she said.
“You go into a survival mindset and I think it really does take a while for you to process that.
“You’re watching your life and everything that you know and recognise about yourself, change right in front of you.”
Having never heard of osteosarcoma cancer until she was diagnosed, Ms Hinks has since undergone a 12-hour surgery and travels to Brisbane for treatment regularly, including chemotherapy.
Ms Hinks has had to push aside her university business degree studies and future plans while she undergoes her intensive treatment regime.
The eldest of four kids, Ms Hinks also has a passion for photography and the ocean. She is also part of her family’s tourism multi-award winning business based on Magnetic Island, sharing the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef with locals and visitors alike.
Saying she has been blown away by the support of the Magnetic Island and Townsville communities as well as hospital staff in Brisbane and Townsville, Ms Hinks said it has been “one of the most humbling experiences of her life”.
A GoFundMe has been created by a family friend and has already surpassed $11,000 to go towards helping Ms Hinks with her treatment, medical bills and travel expenses to and from Brisbane.
Her partner, family and friends and the support of the community have been with her every step of they way, which is Ms Hinks said is something she “she will never forget.”
“Seeing the way people have rallied and come together to help me and help me get through the next chapter of my life …. I couldn’t ask for help myself,” she said.
Ms Hinks said she hoped, with everything going smoothly, to be finished with her treatment by the end of August.
“We’re just staying positive that August will be a great month for us and we can start to work towards the next chapter of my life,” she said.
Visit the GoFundMe here.
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Originally published as 22-year-old Melia Hinks from Magnetic Island battling acute Osteosarcoma cancer
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