Cairns Organisation United in Cancer Health patient Georgia Barrett reveals mental battle
A Cairns cancer centre’s youngest patient reveals the mental battles she faced since her diagnosis, from enduring 30 blood transfusions to effectively having to rebuild herself.
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St Monica’s College student Georgia Barrett is a softly spoken, determined 17 year old with an eye on a future career in nursing or medicine.
She has a maturity beyond her years acknowledging that family, positivity and social connections are the most important things in life rather than the usual “hair, makeup and dating” response of many her age.
Georgia was 14 when she was diagnosed with leukaemia in the midst of the Covid pandemic while on a festive season holiday at Heron Island and northern NSW.
The news via a phone call was shocking and unbelievable for mum, Sophie, to digest after taking her eldest daughter to see a doctor in “a carpark” due to Covid protocols, after only two weeks of symptoms including fatigue, a fever, aching jaw and loss of appetite.
“We kept doing Covid tests which were negative,” Mrs Barrett said.
For the next 16 months their lives would be turned upside down, centring in and around the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane where Georgia would undergo treatment.
Georgia Barrett is sharing her story in the Cairns Post’s Champions of COUCH campaign to raise awareness of its integrative oncology facility off Reservoir Rd as it wages a funding fight for survival.
The centre will be completely reliant on community contributions once federal funds cease in March but has received a wave of public support since the campaign began in November including Mayor Amy Eden and advocacy groups Chamber of Commerce and Advance Cairns.
COUCH chairperson Dr Scott Davis is now urging local MPs to step up and help.
“I’m calling on our local members to sit around a table and come up with a sustainable solution that will take COUCH into the future.
“Our kids, like Georgia, deserve care close to home where they can be supported by their loved ones,” Dr Davis said.
FIGHT OF HER LIFE
On the same day that she received her diagnosis, Georgia tested positive for Covid which lasted for the first month of her treatment, landing her and her mother in isolation in the Covid ward with limited access to medical support staff.
They were also separated from dad, Andrew, and younger sister Morgan, now 15, who had to remain in Cairns for more than six months.
They were in shock and cut off from family, friends and services left to grapple with a disease that has a high incidence of recurrence.
Georgia endured 30 blood transfusions, countless life-threatening infections, relentless nausea and spent a year in a wheelchair due to osteonecrosis. The permanent damage to her bones was caused by intensive chemotherapy treatment.
It was another crushing diagnosis.
“I found it really hard,” Georgia said.
“I was just focusing on getting through the treatment to return to my normal life but to find out I had permanent damage to my bones was devastating.”
Where the hospital and treatment over two-and-a-half years saved her life, Georgia says COUCH (Cairns Organisation United in Cancer Health) “made it better”.
With the expert guidance of an exercise physiologist, she was able to build muscle and regain strength, and now no longer requires a wheelchair full-time.
“They helped me get out of the wheelchair,” Georgia said.
FINDING STRENGTH
At 15 Georgia was the youngest person attending COUCH Wellness Centre, which many assume is only for older clients.
Back in Cairns after missing all of Year 9, Georgia was able to attend the centre’s gym to rebuild her body, connect with other teens through Canteen events, participated in pottery and paint workshops and the Look Good Feel Better workshops.
COUCH was healing her inside and out.
“Everyone is so friendly and supportive and so are the staff,” Georgia said.
It was difficult losing her hair for the first time due to the chemo but the second and third times were mentally bruising for the teen.
“Having the wheelchair and then losing my hair the second time was hard to deal with.”
After she lost her shoulder-length hair the third time due to ongoing medication, Georgia said she “didn’t cope very well”.
“I was heartbroken.”
Family was Georgia’s constant strength, but being able to access expert care and support in Cairns at COUCH had been excellent, said Mrs Barrett who admitted she originally incorrectly thought the centre was an accommodation house for remote cancer sufferers.
After a recommendation from friend and COUCH chairman Dr Scott Davis, the Barretts soon realised it was so much more.
Mrs Barrett, who is Cairns Regional Council’s sustainability coordinator, said attending the Brisbane hospital where babies and children had cancer put Georgia’s battle into perspective with many families struggling to juggle treatment, employment and relationship stress.
“We realised we had good family support, my work had been good; we were luckier than a lot of people and felt grateful that we had what we did have,” Mrs Barrett said.
YOU’RE NOT ALONE
In Brisbane, the Leukaemia Foundation provided accommodation and there were other support networks but having COUCH back at home was “so important” with most regional areas going without, she said.
“It’s so important to have somewhere where you can go and get that support in a regional area as you often feel like you are alone. It gives you a chance to meet other people and have somewhere to feel supported and like you’re not the only one going through this.”
The Barretts were able to meet with their COUCH family at the annual Christmas party and attended the Paediatric Oncology Christmas party at the wellness centre this month.
Mother and daughter have witnessed leukaemia’s ultimate cruelty on those they’ve met during their journey but try to stay focused on the future.
Georgia now has regular blood tests and faces revaccination due to lost immunity and cannot engage in any weight-bearing exercise including running or basketball, which she previously played due to the osteonecrosis.
Georgia says she has always concentrated on “pushing through” and is now working on dedicating her life to helping others.
Help make a difference and become a Champion of COUCH. To find out how you can build a future of comprehensive care for cancer battlers call 4032 0820 or email: champions@couch.org.au
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