A mother of one boy experienced some pain in the final weeks of her second pregnancy, but attributed the pains to being in her third trimester.
When Suraya Jenkins was still experiencing pain in the weeks after giving birth, she thought it was due to the lingering effects of her C-section.
But it was much more serious than that, as she discovered when tests revealed she had stage four cancer in both lungs, her brain and her bones.
Her baby, Wren, was just five weeks old when Ms Jenkins, 36, received the devastating, life-changing news in early July.
Ms Jenkins, a former travel agent who most recently worked in early childhood education, and her life partner, Shannon, also have another boy, Reef, aged two and a half.
His cousin Jemah Schmidt has created a GoFundMe Page to help raise money to help the family from the town of Armidale in northern New South Wales during this devastating time.
“The symptoms of the cancer came on pretty quickly. There weren’t many warning signs before they started getting tested,” Schmidt, 35, told Daily Mail Australia.
‘All other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, associated pain and lethargy, were masked by the pregnancy.’
A heavily pregnant Surya Jenkins is pictured with her partner Shannon and their son Reef.
The family is pictured shortly after baby Wren was born, but before Ms Jenkins’ cancer diagnosis.
As cousins and roughly the same age, Mrs. Schmidt has known Mrs. Jenkins forever, but their bond runs deeper than that.
“We’ve definitely had that relationship where we were more like sisters throughout our lives, so there’s a really close friendship that we share,” she said.
Ms. Schmidt said her cousin “is adjusting to the treatments and the different ways her body responds to them,” and is getting a lot of help.
“Shannon has been incredibly supportive. She’s doing everything she can to help Suraya and take care of her family and she’s doing everything that’s asked of her,” she said.
“Her parents have been incredibly supportive, as have Shannon’s parents. They have been totally available and there to support Shannon and Suraya through this whole process, playing with the kids and taking care of the house.”
She added that “Reef is adjusting to having a brother, which is always a difficult time for a two-year-old to understand.”
“And his family is helping him and supporting him to help him cope.”
Suraya Jenkins is pictured with her two-and-a-half-year-old son Reef and baby Wren.
Baby Wren, of course, has no idea of the battle his mother is facing, but because she is undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy, she is unable to breastfeed.
That’s why a second GoFundMe A centre has been set up to provide donated breast milk to Wren, which Ms Schmidt said was “very important (to the family) so the baby gets the best nutrition possible”.
The fundraiser she organised is for medical bills and travel expenses to see doctors at Armadale, Tamworth and Coffs Harbour hospitals, household costs, supplements, recovery programmes and mobility aids.
But the other, created by Armidale-based lactation consultant Melanie Kelly, is aimed solely at providing breast milk.
“She was quick to offer her support and has been amazing at organising the milk from Mothers Milk Bank, which is a charity in Brisbane,” Ms Schmidt said.
Breastfeeding mothers donate excess milk to the milk bank before it is freeze-dried and then transported to Armidale.
Even though it is a charity and the milk is donated, it still costs $850 a week due to the processes it goes through and the distance it has to travel.
Ms Schmidt said everyone has hope for the future.
‘Suraya is a very optimistic person and has a lot to live for. That’s why she will fight until the end.
‘I think she’ll be healthy on the other side of this.
Ms Jenkins is unable to breastfeed her baby Wren (pictured) due to her cancer treatments.
Ms Jenkins is pictured with her partner Shannon and their children Reef and Wren.
“The shock has had a huge impact on everyone in Suraya’s family. We all know that she has the ability to overcome this and we are doing everything we can to support her.”
Ms. Jenkins thanked everyone who donated to the fundraiser.
‘Shannon and I are deeply humbled and humbled by the incredible contributions and support we have received from the community and beyond.
‘We will be eternally grateful to those who have helped and supported us during these difficult times.’