A mother of two was diagnosed with stage four cancer just weeks after the birth of her second child.
Suraya Jenkins, from the regional city of Armidale in New South Wales, has cancer in both lungs, her brain and her bones.
The 36-year-old received the shock diagnosis shortly after having baby Wren with her partner Shannon; the couple also have an older child, two-year-old Reef.
Ms Jenkins had back pain after Wren was born, which she initially thought was due to a Caesarean section, but then a local doctor found fluid in her lungs.
She had attributed other recent health symptoms to being in her third trimester.
Further tests were carried out and she was diagnosed with cancer in early July, when baby Wren was just five weeks old.
“It all happened so fast,” said her cousin Jemah Schmidt, who created a GoFundMe For Ms. Jenkins, she said 9News.
‘It is incomprehensible that your world can be turned upside down in an instant.
Mother-of-two Suraya Jenkins (pictured) was diagnosed with stage four cancer just weeks after the birth of her second child.
Suraya Jenkins is pictured with her two-year-old son Reef and newborn baby Wren.
“This is the time when you should put all your love, attention and joy into welcoming this new child.”
Specialists treating Ms Jenkins have not yet found where the cancer started, but she has now started chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatment.
“These therapies will be ongoing and may have some pretty nasty side effects,” Schmidt, 35, wrote on the fundraising page.
He said all funds raised will go “directly to helping this amazing family through their most difficult time.”
This will include medical bills, travel costs to see doctors at Armadale, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour hospitals, household costs, supplements, recovery programmes, mobility aids and breast milk.
Because of her treatment, Ms Jenkins, a former travel agent who most recently worked in early childhood education, is unable to breastfeed.
Instead, the money comes from the charity Mothers Milk Bank, but because the family lives in a rural area, transporting the milk to them will cost up to $850 a week.
Ms Jenkins is pictured with her partner Shannon and their children Reef and Wren.
The young mother is undergoing further tests to see what other medications she could take to help her fight cancer.
“At this point we believe it is treatable and we remain hopeful,” Schmidt said.
Local federal MP Barnaby Joyce shared a link to his fundraiser and said: “Suraya, you are in our prayers.”
Ms Jenkins said she was humbled by all the support, with $46,000 raised as of Wednesday afternoon.
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