A family on Auckland’s North Shore is facing two serious diagnoses just months apart, with both parents fighting cancer at the same time.
Kevin and Tracey, of Browns Bay, are navigating two different journeys with the disease – one hopeful and one “heartbreakingly terminal”.
Tracey was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer this year and has completed most of her treatment.
According to a Givealittle page set up for the family, her recovery is looking positive, though she continues to manage ongoing symptoms and side effects.
Meanwhile, Kevin was recently diagnosed with terminal acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myeloma, after a lifelong struggle with serious illness and multiple cancers.
Their daughter, Victoria, told the Herald her parents are “extremely scared” and overwhelmed by the uncertainty the future holds.
“He’s worried about his family and what will happen, you know, how we’re going to manage and stuff like that,” she said.
“Mum just wants to enjoy simple things with him, like going to the beach, without worrying. But he’s very short of breath; he can’t move far at all right now.
“It’s horrible… we’re just getting through day by day.”
Kevin is no stranger to dealing with health issues throughout his life, including multiple cancers and heart attacks.
Victoria said Kevin, originally from New Zealand, was living in England but returned here with the family in search of more opportunities and a better lifestyle.
Along with Victoria and her younger brother, they settled on the North Shore and hoped for a fresh start.
Shortly after their arrival, Kevin’s daughter from a previous marriage died from cancer at 13 years old.
“My dad has a genetic mutation linked to cancer, his mum had it, and our sister passed away from it too,” she said.
“It was very traumatic.
“Our sister had rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of cancer in the muscle behind the eye. Ten years later it returned as a brain tumour. She passed of cancerous meningitis at age 13.”
Kevin suffered his first heart attack at 35 and was later diagnosed with prostate and bowel cancer, while Victoria was still in high school, she said.
“He was told he had a year to live when he was 50. But he’s a fighter, he’s always had this incredibly optimistic outlook, which I think has helped keep him going,” she said.
Six weeks ago, Kevin was hospitalised with Covid and pneumonia, but tests revealed he also had AML.
“It was touch and go, 50/50 whether he would survive that night,” Victoria said.
Because of his weakened condition, his doctors advised that chemotherapy is not an option and the public health system can do no more for him, she said.
“The chemo would kill him. His body just wouldn’t cope.”
Victoria’s older brother is visiting from Ireland for the first time in 10 years with his wife and three young children.
The trip was made so they could spend time with Kevin while they still can.
“They just want some time with him. It’s really hard knowing this might be the last chance they have together as a family,” Victoria said.
With Kevin retired from his career as a draftsman, and Tracey forced to “drastically reduce” her hours as a mental health nurse, the family is under financial pressure.
“Mum hasn’t been able to work her normal shifts since her diagnosis.
“Mum did her first shift the other day but still worries about Dad the whole time,” Victoria said.
The family set up a Givealittle page to help relieve the financial pressure they are facing.
The money raised will go towards Kevin’s special diet, supplements and alternative treatments, as well as everyday living costs.
“Those things are expensive, but they’re giving him hope and maybe helping to extend his life, even if just a little,” she said.
Victoria said: “It’s been really stressful because both of them have been unable to do stuff at times. So I’ve taken quite a bit of time off work.
“I’m not really sleeping… We are just trying to get through each day and focus on the positives.”
The family is appreciative of the help it has received so far from the community.
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