Laura’s Story
In March 2018, not even a year after the birth of her 4th daughter, 27-year-old Laura was diagnosed cancer. She was given half a days’ notice to be in Sydney some 470km away.
Her initial surgery was brutal “they had to cut through my back, all the way across to my left breast. My ribs were cracked, and my lungs deflated… after 6 weeks in hospital in Sydney it took another 6 months recovery at home before I could walk again.” Laura Grabbo
Not getting the results they wanted, doctors administered some three different types of chemotherapy over the following three years. Each round was delivered in Sydney, meaning Laura had to travel and accommodate in Sydney every couple of months for several nights at a time.
Laura’s from Boggabri, a small town in north-east NSW
After a year off treatment in order to regain some strength, Laura re commenced oral chemotherapy from home this year. Her side effects have been extreme; nausea, memory loss, vertigo, blurred vision, migraines and sores that don’t heal. Laura’s feet are red raw with multiple blisters.
Not surprisingly, her husband Codie stopped work some time ago – not only to look after their four children (now 11, 9, 7 and 6) but also his wife. Laura’s mum is not far away in Gunnedah and she has been “a constant help… mum goes without so much for my sake.” Laura Grabbo
It was Laura’s mum who first told her about Can Assist all those years ago. “Can Assist has been there since the beginning … Chris Pullman, Client Liaison Officer, Can Assist Gunnedah is such a support to me …someone I can talk to, she calls in and we have coffee together, she is my rock.”
Can Assist has helped Laura’s family with a range of expenses including new tyres, car registrations, Coles vouchers, washing and dryer machine repairs, and out of pocket specialist consults.
As with all our clients – we remain a support until the cancer is beat.
“Laura is a kind and courageous woman and I am so grateful for the friendship we have developed. Had it not been for Can Assist, I never would have had the privilege of knowing her.” Chris Pullman, Client Liaison Officer, Can Assist Gunnedah
