Terri's Story
Four years ago a shock diagnosis changed Terri’s life forever.
As you know, life can change in an instant. For Terri it all started with a persistent sore back.
At the time, Terri was living on the Gold Coast and working as a dental nurse. She had moved from a small country town in New South Wales and was enjoying the sea change.
Following nine months of investigations into the cause of her sore back, a seizure prompted Terri’s doctor to send her for an urgent MRI.
The results came as a shock. Terri was diagnosed with brain cancer.
Terri underwent her first surgery – a biopsy of her tumour to determine her diagnosis. A second surgery followed and left Terri with paralysis down her right side.
Her paralysis meant she had to relearn how to walk and talk.
“I had to return home to live with my parents,” said Terri.
Terri receives ongoing treatment once a fortnight at the Albury Base Hospital which is located 160km from her family home. The family needed somewhere comfortable to stay close to Terri’s treating hospital, and found that at Fight Cancer Foundation’s accommodation centre, Hilltop.
For the past three years, Terri and her family have been staying at our accommodation centre.
“Walking into Hilltop, it was very warm and welcoming,” said Terri.
The convenience of finding accommodation close to Terri’s treating hospital has made a significant difference.
“Hilltop means to me, the flexibility of booking in for the night which allows me to see my oncologist earlier,” said Terri. The benefit of an earlier appointment is that the family can then hit the road earlier in the day to drive the 160km home.
While Terri’s life has certainly changed and she will continue to receive treatment her resolve is inspiring.
“My mantra is; these are the cards I’ve been dealt… I just have to play the game.”
Terri continues to live life to the fullest and wants people to know “I’m still me”.