F A M I LY M AT T E R S
TALI’S STORY
LOCAL LEUKAEMIA SURVIVOR TALI DUNNAGE-BURKE, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA ON THE 4TH OF JULY, 2003. “I had been working in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and had just celebrated my 30th birthday. My journey started with a really bad flu. After three weeks, my symptoms changed for the worse and I was flown to Cairns. By midday the next day I flew to Brisbane for further tests and was told I had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.” “My life was turned upside-down. I was incredibly sick and there was so much to take in both emotionally and physically with Chemo treatment, nurses, and specialists continually poking and probing my body.” “Within the first four days at the Brisbane Mater Hospital, a representative from the Leukaemia Foundation visited my family and explained how they could support us. The Foundation were amazing; they absorbed our emotional chaos and made it more manageable.” “After two months in hospital, we moved into the Leukaemia Foundation’s Accommodation (ESA) Village near the hospital, where my family was able to be with me during 8 months of intensive treatment.” “I was told I would never reach remission without a bone marrow transplant. My eldest sister became my miracle bone marrow donor and I had a transplant on December 1st 2003. During this incredibly emotional time, we were able to feel safe and were provided incredible support and counselling from the team at the Leukaemia Foundation.” “I am now almost 11 years in remission. I am incredibly grateful to be alive and to have gained one of life’s most delightful pleasures; our beautiful little daughter Kali with my best friend/husband, Paul.” “Without the support of everyday individuals taking part and fundraising in events such as The World’s Greatest Shave, the Leukaemia Foundation wouldn’t have been able to support my family and the many wonderful people I met during my journey,” Ms Dunnage said.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Townsville locals can get involved by signing up at www. worldsgreatestshave.com or supporting the Foundation by attending and donating at one of the public shave events.
“MY JOURNEY STARTED WITH A REALLY BAD FLU. AFTER THREE WEEKS, MY SYMPTOMS CHANGED FOR THE WORSE AND I WAS FLOWN TO CAIRNS.” TALI DUNNAGE-BURKE
72 DUO MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2015 duomagazine.com.au
The public shaves will be held on Saturday 14 March at Willows Shopping Centre and at the Rotary Club of Townsville’s Cotters Markets on Sunday 15th March from 10am – 12pm. Other events throughout the North Queensland region can be found at: www.worldsgreatestshave.com.au/events The Leukaemia Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation that does not receive direct government funding and relies on the generosity of the community to support its vision to cure blood cancers and support patients when they need it most.