By MEGAN OGLE
A LOCAL family is calling on the community for help as a mother-of-three continues to battle brain cancer seven years after being diagnosed.
Roz Harper is the loving mother of three daughters, Chloe, Megan and Molly and the doting wife of Jon Harper, and for seven years the family has been supporting Roz to beat brain cancer, but it hasn’t come cheap.
Ms Harper was diagnosed in 2009 after a red back spider bit her hand and symptoms prompted a visit to the doctor. A scan showed a tumour on the parietal lobe, the area of your brain responsible for intellect, thought, reasoning and memory, which, at the last scan in October 2015 was about 14mm in diameter.
Multiple visits to the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital, a wide range of tablets and many chemo sessions which can cost upwards of $11,400 each six weeks have hit the family hard, with more expenses expected as Ms Harper continues her battle.
Ms Harper said she was in constant pain and suffered intense headaches which often left her bedridden. Although there is a painkiller which could help, Roz said the starting price for just three weeks’ worth is $20,640.
“My other symptoms include dry mouth, which makes me want to vomit every time I brush my teeth,” Ms Harper said.
“I constantly feel constipated, I’m unable to understand what people are saying and I’m unable to respond correctly.
“My quality of life has been badly affected; I can no longer take my daughters to their activities on the weekends, I don’t feel well enough to go out, and I struggle to sleep at night.”
Mr Harper’s daughter, Chloe, has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise funds to pay for medical bills and transport costs for the many visits to the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital. At the time of print over $6338 had already been raised with 77 people contributing to the Harper family.
If you would like to donate to the campaign head to www.gofundme.com/bqxbte84.
