Anakie life member James Mapapalangi diagnosed with incurable cancer as his wife sheds light on family’s struggles

Anakie life member James Mapapalangi may have only months to live after his pancreatic cancer returned. His wife has shed light on the family’s plight as they struggle to make ends meet.

The Mapapalangi family are facing an immense struggle. Picure: Supplied

The Mapapalangi family are living a nightmare.

Their strong and defiant father James, a life member of Anakie Football Netball Club and a much-loved figure in the community, had beaten pancreatic cancer after being diagnosed in 2022.

After 12 rounds of chemotherapy beginning in October 2022, a gruelling 12-hour Whipple procedure and then a further seven cycles of chemotherapy from March 2023, scans then showed that he was in the clear with no tumours in sight.

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Or so he and his family thought.

A scan in October found two tumours on the 46-year-old’s liver.

Then in early December, James and his wife Shelley were given the harrowing news that his cancer had returned and was incurable. Medical experts estimated that Mapapalangi may have just 12 months to live.

This would break any family, let alone one that was already on the brink financially.

As the couple attempt to process this agonising diagnosis, they are also supporting their daughters, Jessica (aged 26), Eboney (24) and a grandchild, Eboney’s son Kobey (six).

James, who is undergoing a brutal palliative chemotherapy schedule, has felt obliged to work where he can to help ends meet.

But the family was informed last week that his painting business, where Eboney also works, will need to be shut down.

Shelley is back at work herself to try and keep the money coming in. But, like James, she is broken.

James Mapapalangi has incurable pancreatic cancer.

James Mapapalangi and his grandson, Kobey. Picture: Supplied

“To be honest it is like living a nightmare you just want to wake up from,” Shelley said choking through tears.

“I don’t even know how to describe your emotions because they are just all over the place. I’m stressing about finances, stressing about the family, for me stressing about not having my husband here. That breaks me.”

“I said to a friend before that if I could describe my emotions – most days I cry, other days I’m angry and other days I don’t even know.

“James is a very, very proud man. He is still out there trying to battle away, paint brush in hand. But he shouldn’t be. I myself, thank god, am working.

“Last time I didn’t work the whole time he was sick, this time I need to work to support us. My motives are a little bit different, we are just taking it day by day.

“He is just a family man, everything he ever does is for his family. He is strong now, still a fighter because he is one of the strongest men you could ever meet. But there is only so much a person can go through.”

Fortunately a fundraising page has been set up to help assist the Mapapalangi family during their devastating plight, with more than $2000 raised for the family in under a week.

And after James and Shelley’s countless hours at Anakie Football Netball Club volunteering over two decades, the Anakie community has come to their aid.

The fundraiser got a significant boost after being shared by Anakie FNC’s Facebook page, with more than $1000 pouring in after the social media post.

When James was first sick, a fundraiser organised by his sister raised $50,000, which kept his business afloat and his daughter employed. This time the money will go towards keeping a roof over their heads, particularly young Kobey, who starts primary school this year.

James and Shelley kept his latest diagnosis quiet for a little while, but they have been overwhelmed by the support from the community since.

“Last time when we had all that support, it shows how much people care. And when you haven’t got it and something like this happens, you feel like you are in a world in your own and the world outside of you is something else,” Shelley said.

“To me (the fundraiser) means that people really care and in the day and age where it is so hard to give as well, it means that much more.

“A lot of these people would have donated prior as well so it shows how much they do care. And they are heartbroken, I know people are heartbroken. So to get the support, it is more than the money, but to get the money it will definitely lessen that burden.

“(James) shouldn’t be working, but without that money we do struggle like anyone – you can’t survive off one income it’s just not possible. We try, for us it is not just keeping a roof over our head, it is keeping a roof under our grandson’s head and our daughter’s as well.

“’Kobes’ hasn’t got any brothers or sisters or the support of his father or anything, nan, pop and his mum are his world. He is the reason we have always fought.”

Shelley and James Mapapalangi, and their grandson Kobey in 2022. Picture: Alison Wynd

ANAKIE CONNECTION

Anakie was so immersed in James and Shelley’s lives that the couple even had their engagement party at the club 18 years ago.

Jessica and Eboney grew up at the club playing Auskick and remained their playing senior netball.

James, or ‘Butch’ has he was affectionately know, fulfilled a variety of roles – vice-president, committee member, line-marker, junior football coach. He gave his all to Anakie Football Netball Club.

“He is loyal as the day was long. My father always said you can count your best friends on one hand and James is your thumb, he was there at the forefront and a great person,” Anakie president Heath Menhennet said.

“I wish I had 20 ‘Butch’s, and I think all clubs do. There are certain peopolem who rock into a club and donate way too much time.

“He did all those jobs that a lot of people walk away from, he was always the first one to put his hand up and whenever anyone was in trouble he was around. Hence why when these things come up with people like that who dedicate themselves is the least we can do.

“He certainly touched a lot of people there coaching a lot of our junior sides to success as well. He was a great mentor for young boys, they looked up to him.”

Shelley, who coached and co-ordinated netball at Anakie, treasures the memories of being involved with the club.

“Our lives were just running around Anakie, but we loved it. It wasn’t like something you didn’t want to do. (James) played a huge role. Always on the committee and then got into the football and done that for so many years. He’s got more friends than even I know!” she said.

“He is literally the sort of man that would go without something as long as someone else was OK, that’s who he is.”

Originally published as Anakie life member James Mapapalangi diagnosed with incurable cancer as his wife sheds light on family’s struggles