For Christina, her mum Francesca has always been the person her family can rely on.
Bubbly, extroverted and loveable, Francesca is a proud Italian woman who finds great joy in caring for the people she loves. She is also fiercely independent and determined.
“She’s also a fiercely independent, determined woman – the quintessential matriarch who has encouraged my sister and I to take risks, and achieve our dreams. Our greatest comfort has always been being able to rely on her to support us, and as a mum she has always put us first.”
Outside of family life, Francesca loves socialising. At the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre, she takes pride in knowing her regular nurses by name and even knowing a little about their lives.
But over the past 12 years, Francesca and her family have also faced three cancer diagnoses.
When Francesca had a mastectomy in 2014, her family learned her breast cancer was more aggressive than they had anticipated. Approximately 11 lymph nodes were removed and she began intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Through the diagnoses, treatments and challenges that followed, Christina says it has often been her mum giving everyone else the strength to keep going.
“Frankly speaking, mum is the one that has given us all the strength to keep going. She has the most inspirational attitude – she doesn’t sweat the small stuff, takes whatever treatments and challenges that are ahead of her within her stride, and encourages us to adopt a similar ‘let’s get this done’ mentality.”
For Christina and her sister Steph, the care their mum has received at the ONJ Centre has meant more than they can put into words.
“Simply put, the ONJ Centre has saved my mother’s life.”
Christina remembers learning just how aggressive her mum’s cancer was following her mastectomy in 2014 and what that meant for their family.
“My sister and I are very attached to mum, and wish to have her around for the many milestones ahead of us – ONJ has gifted us another 12 years, and for this we are eternally grateful.”
Over those years, the family has experienced not only Francesca’s cancer treatment, but the compassion and personalised care surrounding it.
Christina remembers the oncology nurses who provided treatment for Francesca at home and the staff on 6 South who cared for her with dignity and respect when her cognition was hazy.
There are also the everyday moments that have stayed with Christina and Steph.
“My sister Steph and I are so touched when we watch mum walk through the centre on level 3, where she greets the many nurses who sit with her for a chat. The personalised care, the patience of the staff and the sincere desire to help mum recover does not go unnoticed.”
Walking for the next family
This October, Christina will take part in the final Olivia’s Walk for Wellness as a way of giving back to the place that has given her family so much.
“I felt a real need to give back to the place that has afforded my sister and I the most precious gift we could ask for – support for our mum to help her fight her cancer treatments.”
For Christina, fundraising is also an opportunity to pay that support forward.
She understands that asking friends and family to donate can feel daunting, but encourages others to remember why they are doing it.
“People give from the heart because they care: and if placed in the same position to donate for someone else and their loved one in hospital, I’m sure you would do it too.”
And every donation represents something deeply personal to Christina and her family.
“The support represents paying it forward to the next person. As mum continues to recover, (and we hope the recovery remains to be long term!), it would mean the world to us to know that we have contributed to someone else having a chance at hope like we have.”
As Christina prepares to take part in the final Walk, she has a message for anyone considering joining her.
“Please, give this your all – this is our last opportunity in this way to give back to the centre that has done so much for all of us within the community. There is nothing more precious than human life and we are so blessed to have a facility that provides hope and support to the patients and families.”
Join Christina at the final Olivia’s Walk for Wellness on Sunday 4 October and help support people facing cancer through the Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness Centre.