When I was born my parents were told I would not live past five years old. Birthmarks (naevi) covered the lower half of my body; there were too many to remove and it was believed they would probably turn cancerous.
I spent much of my childhood in the plastics unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital having multiple operations a year to remove naevi. Years later a melanoma was found on my left calf. I didn’t know if it would kill me or take my leg. I was awake during the radical excision and skin graft to remove the cancer, but as I was intubated and paralysed I could not tell them. Many years later I was diagnosed with PTSD as a result.
When I was eight months pregnant I found a lump in my left groin. The next day I learned it was a secondary melanoma, and they had no idea where the primary was. The doctor organised with my obstetrician to have our baby induced the following day. For that night and that night only, my husband and I did not want the baby. We went to the church we were married in and cried.
Our beautiful baby girl Georgia was induced and it took all of a second to fall fiercely and madly in love with her. I had to wait a week post-delivery before it was safe to remove the cancer. Knowing it was there and growing was awful. I was told I could not have more children and I had around three months to live if it came back. I went under sobbing but glad the doctor had told me the truth. It took years to be able to plan anything more than three months ahead.
I had 22 lymph nodes removed and started radiotherapy, which gave me terrible burns around my groin. The hospital organised a neonate cot with wheels that I could use instead of a frame to walk around with and look after my baby. I didn’t know how long I had and wanted to spend every minute I could caring for her. One thing the cancer gave me was the joy of being woken up at night and getting one more cuddle instead of concentrating on lack of sleep. Eighteen months later I developed lymphedema in my left leg.
Georgia was in prep when I found a lump on my back. A biopsy showed secondary melanoma, which I had surgically removed, and a PET scan showed hot spots in my abdomen and left knee. I spent much of the next three months in and out of hospital and finally found a surgeon to operate on my knee.
My daughter said I wasn’t to go into hospital again after the back operation. I just sat quietly, and she looked at me and said, “If you don’t go, you will die won’t you?” I said, “Yes.” Georgia said, ”Ok you can go.” After a cuddle, she said, “Even if you do die, I know you will still love me and be with me, and we will see each other again eventually one day.” It still breaks me up that a little girl had to go through that.
My lymphedema had been deteriorating to the degree that it affected my movement and walking. The area around my knee was the same circumference as my thigh. A lymph-venous anastomosis was performed and over a period of time, my leg became the same size as the other leg. I had previously suffered many episodes of septicaemia/cellulitis because of my damaged lymphatics; sometimes the infection took control of my body in as little as an hour. Due to this superhero’s surgery, I have had no further episodes. Things were looking good.
Three and a half years ago I started experiencing pain in my left side. I saw specialists for two years until a PET scan showed a tumour on my femoral nerve. This progressed to severe, incapacitating pain in the left of my groin. A six-hour operation proved unsuccessful. I was left partially paralysed and could not move my leg forwards and fell often. After a couple of months, the pain disappeared, but four weeks later it started growing again and with it came the pain.
Half of the specialists I’d seen said I definitely had neurofibromatosis and didn’t need a test. The other half said I didn’t have neurofibromatosis and shouldn’t waste a test. Finally, I was diagnosed with Phacomatosis Pimento Keratotica, which is pigmented skin caused in the very early stages after conception. This is quite rare. Then a full genome sequencing found further abnormalities. It turned out I do not have neurofibromatosis after all, but my tumours do, and I’m possibly the only patient in the world.
I never thought I would say that secondary melanoma is the least of my problems. The tumour on my femoral nerve has progressed to my lower spine, and the pathologists are concerned it may turn into a sarcoma. The treatment proposed is my only chance to halt the tumour growth, further pain and disability.
I would greatly appreciate your help to raise the $22,000 required.
Please note: Barbara wishes to thank all her generous donors and assure everyone that any monies raised above what she needs, she intends to re-direct back to other patients in need.
Thank you to my Sponsors
$200
Geraldine & Damian James
$100
Anonymous
Stay strong Mutes family
$500
Trevor Cole-sinclair
$200
P & E Mutimer
Stay strong. ❤️
$200
Ken Ashworth
Stay strong. Ken from No: 18
$200
Danielle Stucki
If anyone can beat this, it’s you! Xx The Stuckis
$200
Stuart Norbury
All the best, Stuart, Carolyn, Grace and James Norbury
$200
Columba Van Mullekom
Hi Barbara, our hearts and spirits are with you and your recovery
$100
Anonymous
$250
Anonymous
$200
Christine West
$200
Catherine Basquill
Always thinking of you. The team at Salon Green xxx
$100
Viv I
Sending you so much love ❤️
$1,000
Anonymous
$100
Michael Goss
$100
Gary Brice
Barbara and Brendan. Hoping for a positive outcome. Good luck.
$100
Bernie Evans
$500
Garry Sholl
$50
Adam James
Hugs to you Brendan and Barbara. Shorty
$50
Mick Ahearn
Bets wishes guys
$100
Paul Taberner
Amazing courage. All the best Barbara, Gooey and Georgia.
$100
Dean Chrimes
🙏🙏🙏
$100
Dean Cooper
$100
Peter Carter
Best wishes Mutes and Barbara.
$20
Anonymous
$200
Rachel Love
All the best with the treatment. Jack and Rach
$100
Kevin Goss
$50
Mark Nicol
All the very best
$50
Barry Bonnett
all the best barry bonnett
$100
Bill Swan
$50
Torren Mcmaster
GOOD LUCK BARBARA AND BRENDAN
$100
Kerry Aanensen
Brendan & Barbara, our thoughts are with you Love Kerry & Vic Aanensen
$200
Brett Chadband
Look after yourself Barbara. Love from the Chadbands
$100
Darren Lane
$100
Brett Yorgey
$20
Anonymous
$100
Penny Golding
If anyone can beat this it is you Barb! So lucky to have you as a friend & colleague, Pen
$100
Gregory Dermott
All the best Greg Dermott
$200
Sam Holt
We send out thoughts & wish you all the best for your treatment. Sam & Chris Holt
$500
Denise Tunstall
God bless you Barbara. You have so much courage. Denise and Brendan
$1,000
Phil Carmody
Good luck Barbara
$100
Wayne Moulton
$50
Olivia Collins
$100
Steve Fagan
Good luck with the treatment Barbara
$100
Mark Lugg
$50
Paul Rhodes
My best wishes.
$100
Greg Parr
$50
Julian Dyer
Inspirational Barbara
$50
Julian Dyer
Inspirational Barbara
$100
Peter Gadsden
An amazing story of strength.
$100
Robyn Rayment
Thinking of you, Barb!
$50
Anonymous
$100
Family Klein
For a strong and courageous and capable lady!
$500
Greg And Louise Taylor
❤️ thinking of you
$200
Tiffany G
💖
$500
Anonymous
Small token , hope It helps
$50
Anonymous
$100
Alistair Barkhouse
$100
Dan Beynon
$300
Lachlan Cole-sinclair
$200
Cassandra Sinclair
Sending healing love from all of us xxx
$500
Charles Nelson
$2k
Keith Mutimer
We are there for you Barbara
$100
Darryn Cahill
💜
$20
Teena Lawrence-brown
$500
Suzy And Chris Green
You are amazing Barbara. Thinking of you love Suzy and Chris Green xx
$50
Lou Mitchell
$30
Anonymous
$50
Cathy Coviello
Good luck with the treatment
$50
Tech-nicho Pty Ltd
Miracles can happen 🌈
$100
Cathy Kearney
$100
Anonymous
$100
Darren Crocker
Hey Mutes, we love your support for Barbara & wish you all the best! Crock
$50
Beth & Joe Janssen
$50
Cathy Ostojic
$300
Lexie Fall
$100
Leanne Regan
Love to you Barbara.
$100
Pat O'leary
$50
Michele Rowse
$100
Darren Steele
All the best Barbara. Keep up the Shinboner spirit!
$500
Philippa Baker
🧡🧡🧡
$250
Tony Curcic
$200
Helen Groves
Thinking of you and sending our love. The Groves Family
$2k
Zali And Family
Sending love and hope to our beautiful second family who we love and admire deeply xx
$100
Edith Seuret
$100
Debra Gilchrist
Good luck Barbara x
$100
Digilogix Pty Ltd
Good luck Barbara !!
$20
Roger Gerny
My hand is on your shoulder
$50
Greg James
$500
Jodi Micari
Thinking of you. Love Micaris xxxx
$200
Robbie Dunball
$100
Rosie Lo Grasso & Family
$50
Ally Radobuljac
$100
Angela Rando
Wishing you all the best!!! Hope this helps :)
$50
Billy And Georgia Natsioulas
$50
Simone Kenny
💙💙💙
$300
Carol Butterfield
Wishing our beautiful friend Barbara the best outcome possible.
$100
Deborah + Michael Miltiadou
Wishing you the very best ❤️
$100
Kim And Sally Teschendorff
$50
Lizzie Leembruggen
$200
Parkinson Group
$500
Barbara Mutimer Fan Club
Hey Barbara, So happy for you in being accepted into the trial. Love Fran xx
$50
Tonia Willi
$100
Theo Gougousidis
Good luck my dear friend. My thoughts are with you. Best wishes Theo
$100
Anonymous
$100
Anonymous
$250
Anonymous
$100
Lord Laycock
Another filthy ratbag from the pub!!
$100
Amy Rieve
Sending our love from Jude and Ella, Nick and Amy
$500
Dale Holmes
Wishing you the best Barbara and Brendan.
$260
Justine Cole-sinclair
Best of luck to you Mrs M, my courageous, selfless, resilient and very dear friend. Love, Juzzy xx
$100
Maree Kenny
💖💕💖💕💖💕
$100
Sally Mcmanus
$100
Anonymous
$500
Fiona Sheppard
Dearest Barbara, sending all our love & positive thoughts your way. Fi & Col x
$30
Di Phillips
You are amazing Barbara! Best wishes. Sending much love - Juzzy’s friend, Di
$50
Debbie O'donnell
from a friend of Justine
$100
Michael Bowron
Barbara, you are inspirational. Listen to your own voice, you are listening! Best wishes.
$100
Neil Ross
$100
Anonymous
$500
Nicole Seuret-batterham
In awe of you ❤️
$250
Wendy Poulton
$100
Michael Moulton
$500
Intuitive Finance
$60
Dominic Smith
$100
Kerry Ashbrook
What a strong, courageous, amazing woman you are 🧡
$250
Richard And Kate Vines
With our very best wishes. Stay strong.
$100
Marcus Roberts
From one of the scruffy bugger at the pub, love you both xxx
$50
Iris Fooks
Lots of little fish will fill up the dish 🙏🏻 Sending positive vibes 😘
$100
Louise West
For lovely Barbara ❤️
$200
Olivia Fleming
$50
Rob Elliott
$50
Emily Perchanidis
❤️❤️
$100
Ron N Ollie Harwood
Chin up champ. Hope this helps.
$100
Liv Kastelic
Lots of love for you and your beautiful family 💞
$100
Steph Iera
Wishing you the best and lots of love 💓
$100
Caitlin Hinds
❤️❤️❤️❤️
$250
Rupert Hinds
All our love
$100
Sarah Dowdney
Lots of love and support xx
$20
Matthew Stoddart
$200
Mietta Richardson
So much love to such a gorgeous family
$30
Gili Inbar
$50
Campbell Cole-sinclair
$50
Steph Cameron
❤️
$100
Aicha Phipps-booth
Sending love and strength 💗💗
$50
Isabelle Dimos
$50
Hannah Carroll
❤️❤️
$400
Lynette & James Carroll
💜 💜
$100
Neil Ray
$100
Keith Butterworth
$100
John Mcdonough
Best wishes …J Mc
$100
Eleni Miltiadou
Stay strong Barbara, sending lots of love and support 🤍
$200
Ross Teschendorff
Stay strong Barbara
$100
All our love and supportive, you go girl! Much love, Damian & Geraldine ❤️💪🏻🙏🏻