Mariah Cornick: Single mum’s brain tumour struggle

A young Tasmanian single mum faces a long and uncertain road to recovery, her devastated sister said. The news has been especially tough, as the pair have already lost their other sister.

Launceston NDIS team leader Mariah Cornick with daughter Billie. Picture: Supplied

A Tasmanian single mum faces the struggle of her life, following a devastating brain tumour diagnosis at only 30 years of age, and with a beloved daughter just about to turn five.

For Launceston woman Mariah Cornick, a team leader at Newstead NDIS provider St Michael’s Association, the surgery on January 11 to remove the approximately 30mm by 35mm tumour was the easy part.

She now faces the prospect of a year-long course of both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, requiring five treatments of an hour each per week as there is a “shadow behind the tumour that was removed that is the more extreme cancer,” sister Sinead Cornick told the Mercury.

“She’s doing the best she can, this has been very tough on everyone. She has been very stressed,” Sinead said.

Sisters Mariah and Sinead Cornick. Picture: Supplied

“Mariah had little to no side effects (indicating the presence of cancer) and it’s scary how things can change so quickly for someone.”

The stress has been even greater due to the need to shield daughter Billie from the worst of the news.

Launceston NDIS team leader Mariah Cornick with daughter Billie. Picture: Supplied

“Billie does somewhat understand that mummy is unwell and that things may change for her some day but she knows that mummy does love her a lot and that her aunty (myself) will take care of her full time if need be. But she is still too young to really understand it,” Sinead said.

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The diagnosis it set to place exorbitant strain on Mariah’s mental health and personal finances.

“It has not only affected her daily life and her working life, but also the social and financial side of things, as she is unable to work for (at least) six months and isn’t allowed to drive for 12 months,” Sinead said.

Mariah Cornick. Picture: Supplied

She said she had been laid especially low by the news – not only due to Mariah’s shock diagnosis, but because the pair’s older sister, Amber, died unexpectedly from a bout of pneumonia in 2007.

“Mariah as a sister, she’s very protective. She will do anything to support me and guide me, as unfortunately we have lost our older sister to a sudden illness, so we only have each other. We are very close,” Sinead said.

“Mariah goes above and beyond for everyone and puts others first before herself.”

Sinead’s online fundraiser to financially support Mariah and Billie has so far raised $4900 at the time of writing.