This year the foodies at Handcrafted by Loaf and Farro Fresh have teamed up to supply Christmas Tarts that not only taste great but from every pack that is sold $1 comes to support Sweet Louise members, women and men living with incurable breast cancer. There are two tarts on offer; a traditional version loaded with fruit mince, citrus peel and spices and encased in buttery pastry and a lovely … Read More
My name is Jayne and I am 43 years old. In July 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 34. I had a dimple under my breast. I couldn’t feel a lump and it didn’t look like anything. The surgeon did an ultrasound and found a lump straight away. I was absolutely stunned and I was unsure about my future – was I going to die soon? … Read More
Noralle goes to sleep thinking about cancer and wakes up thinking about cancer. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer last year, a few days after her 29th birthday. “When the doctor told me, it was like being stabbed. Like being cut so deep you’re numb at first but you know it’s bad and it’s going to hurt later. That pain hasn’t stopped.” After her initial diagnosis, Noralle began planning a ‘cancer-free’ party. “I thought if I had something to look forward … Read More
Dear Members, supporters and friends, A bit more than a decade ago, a small group of us had an idea to meet what we knew was a real need in our community. That need was to help those who were diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and was inspired by the life of my wife, Louise Perkins. Much is known and written about primary breast cancer. And that is a good … Read More
Mata’s first thoughts were for her daughters Elizabeth and Inglera when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. “My world fell apart. All I could think about was staying strong for my girls,” says Mata. Mata’s girls know everything about her diagnosis. She’s told them about her treatments and what’s going to happen to her. “Inglera is my fighter. She tells me no one and nothing will take me from them. She tells me to fight.” A … Read More
Fred’s Story It was May 2008 when Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer. Typically, Sandy’s attitude was “let’s get on with it and together we can beat this bugger”. Although we occasionally shared our fears that it would return, the more time that rolled by, the more we believed we had indeed beaten “the bugger”. On Christmas Eve in 2013, Sandra was admitted to hospital for urgent treatment after finding out her cancer … Read More
For Sweet Louise Members, the impact of their diagnosis is profound. Something as simple as household chores can become a real challenge. Accessing services like Green Acres and Hire a Hubby takes some pressure off a Member during an already stressful time. Home and garden help can really make a difference to the everyday lives of Members. “I just had to let you know that I have been at hospital appointments all day and didn’t … Read More
Bernadette’s Story When I think about Desiree, the first thing that comes to mind is her strong and courageous nature. Even when it was obvious she was unwell, she always put on a brave face for those around her. Desiree was only 31 when she was diagnosed and 35 when we found out it had spread. I remember feeling such a deep sadness. Her son, my beautiful grandson Hayden, wasn’t going to have his mum help him grow up. And he knew that…because … Read More
Louise had everything to live for. She had just graduated and recently married. At 29, Louise was told that the cancer had advanced to a secondary stage. She was given just two years to live. Louise received excellent medical care but knew that while this was necessary to keep her alive, it wasn’t enough. She filled her life with reasons to live, tending her mind, body and spirit and discovered a variety of ways that helped her deal with … Read More
After a long day of medical treatments, the last thing a Sweet Louise Member wants to do is cook dinner. Getting home cooked meals delivered to their home takes a weight off their shoulders and means Members can focus on recuperating. EAT, one of our Service Providers, do an amazing job of delivering delicious meals to Sweet Louise Members. Often the smells and process of preparing a meal is simply too much for our Members. But they are aware and conflicted knowing how important it is for them to eat quality nutrition to … Read More