Around the World for Laura

Amazing work by Graeme Hayden in 'Around the World for Laura in NYC. Congratulations on completing your cycles Graeme.

Around the World for Laura has successfully raised just shy of €7,000 to support Laura Gilmore Anderson's healing mission. Laura, we are 100% behind you as you continue your healing journey xx

Beauty and the big C

Around the world for Laura, organized by Graeme Hayden Hi everyone, I'm looking for some help to raise some funds for a friend back home in Ireland… Graeme Hayden needs your support for Around the world for Laura

Reality check 😢

Why post such a vulnerable picture of myself? I’m asking myself the same question bc I hope to look back on this and see how Iv overcome this spell of pain and il be stronger than ever. I felt yesterday I could not take it anymore, cope with pain , it is all too much, weeks of constant pain, it’s been a while since I experienced such a heavy spell like this. There’s no give , it’s constant , prodding nerve pain, deep rooted, that I can’t catch a break. I’ve restless legs, feel nauseous, I’m swollen, can’t sleep, lost my appetite over the last 2 days, previous to this Paul was making sure I was eating but I just couldn’t last 2 days.
It’s hard to explain, Iv not been able to look at my phone, answer calls, or respond to anyone. Thanks to everyone for checking in. I really appreciate it. ❤️Iv just been in a dark cloud. I seen a doctor and meds are changing , I’m starting today. The doctor said if I’m able do little weights as I need my strength & muscle mass to help my immune system as I’m so weak right now. Iv been praying to my angels & crying for help. Today is the first day Iv showered and changed in to different leggings. It’s been a series of Groundhog days. I’m a ugly crier 🤣. Iv overcome worst , it just feels never ending, I’m scared and also anxious waiting on scan results. I’m saying tomorrow will be better and yet it’s the same until today. Today I managed a little bit more. I feel like I’m failing everyday and failing as a wife and I’m failing on what I wanted to achieve . I envisioned my new routine and I’d be settled & skipping around singing I’m walking on sunshine . 🤣Paul gets home & it’s hotwater bottles and no cuddles because I’m so agitated and exhausted, yet he got me comfortable lastnight putting some pressure on my back. It helped for a while. I know this is all part of this everyday nightmare. A thoughtful friend dropped in a book How to find Joy in 5 mins a day. So I’m trying that out. There is always so much to be grateful for. I just can’t cope when I’m like this but hopefully it improves very soon.

Marie Curie 🌻

I have been under the Marie Curie pallentive care nurses since last June. I was actually terrified when this happened because at that point I thought I was going to die soon, being told your cancer is incurable, chemo etc only adds a few months extra to your time that was because I had a terrible oncologist at the time and had no faith whatsoever. I also misunderstood what other care and support they provide. They have been the A team I call them in helping me manage pain and assess the medication I’m on and try make me comfortable as possible. I have been very fortunate that their visits became less in the last year as to everyone’s surprise I have been doing relatively well. When I first met the nurse , it was very grim conversations about end of life care , funeral planning and we spoke about my dreams and wishes.
Today they were happy to see how Iv improved but obviously pain has become a problem again . They did a pain assessment and rang the GP and upped the dose on the nerve pain killer and I have diff anti sickness tabs that should help sleep . I was hoping for immediate relief but oramorph doesn’t hit the spot for me and makes me sick and messes up your bowels and sleep . So trying to see what else I can try.
I’m so grateful for a home visit as I felt they listened and cared rather than a quick visit to GP. Karen the lead nurse said there all about the people and family support. I have also been waiting on a couselling referral since Nov & they were able to refer me to someone in Marie Curie that will hopefully be quicker .
Along with all the support services they provide, If you haven’t used Marie Curie before and have unbearable pain, they have specialist nurses to help and support you in the comfort of your own home.
I have my heat patches, pain patches and whatever else I can grab. I won’t have a hotwater bottle strapped to me over the weekend. 😀I was feeling so much better today and it’s hit again. The nature of the beast!
I’m determined as life is so precious to us all. It’s my aim to start living again as I feel Iv not. I also can’t wait to start my Mexico protocol next week and try get into my routine and focus.

We are all behind you on this trip Laura. No longer qualifying for any NHS treatment makes this fundraiser even more important to help you continue to heal. We are with you on every km!

BE STRONG, BE FEARLESS,
BE BEAUTIFUL AND BELIEVE
THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
WHEN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
PEOPLE THERE TO
SUPPORT YOU.❤️🤞🙏🏽

Massive Thank you to everyone & the last of the donations from the go fund that got me back here. I actually can’t quite believe it, I’m an emotional wreck at the moment. I’ve been so quiet but just haven’t had the energy.
Travelling was so much easier this time, we flew from Glasgow and saved money not going through London. So grateful for that. We had a lovely air hostess taking care of us. ❤️
I’m happy to see the back of July if I’m honest, it was a very tough month mentally and physically. I can share when I gather my thoughts properly.

I’m just so so grateful to be back thanks to the support and funding. I know it’s been hard for some to understand, I know it’s ongoing & I never realised the extent and cost of this route.
I’m in the clinic today and I was welcomed with hugs and smiles, followed by prayer and songs. It feels safe and homely. I can’t quite describe the feeling I get when I’m here, there’s such good energy.

Today I will get all my tests and follow up appointments before any treatments.
cancer markers, Thermography, bloods, ultrasound. I will share what Iv been able to get on this return visit.

I currently don’t qualify for any NHS treatments due to my bone marrow so hopefully now Il have chance to heal , hope the cancer gets under control . There’s no clinical trials for me so this route and medication to keep me going is so important to me. I believe we can heal. Neuroendocrine Cancer is really complicated and we are all different and unique. I’m just a small percentage that is in this situation. As I get better I will try help others , raise awareness. We need more options. We need early detection not when it’s at stage 4. I really appreciate all that everyone has done for me over the last year & half and still continuing to do so.

Here’s to a good boost after PRRT and praying it’s all doing it’s magic healing my body! 🪄

www.idonate.ie/AroundtheWorldforLaura

Boom! Half way!

Keep up the warrior mindset Laura x

First big milestone done! 10km 😊 with Steve Cu***ng

Our running buddy this morning! She was faster than us mind you! Steve Cu***ng

The funds raised through Around the World for Laura will go towards getting Laura back to Mexico for more treatment. It's expensive but it's working so let's continue to

How We Treat Cancer Our holistic cancer treatment program addresses the physical, mental, and emotional roots of disease for comprehensive healing. Click here to learn more.

* Diagnosis Hero*
After a year of zoom calls , I finally got to meet Professor Juan Valle .
Prof. Valle is a Neuroendocrine Cancer Specialist based in the Christie clinic in Manchester.

Prof. Valle was my third opinion when I was diagnosed. Yes, I got a second and still went for a third as I wanted to ensure I’d explored all possible options available to me. I’d highly recommend if your newly diagnosed to do this. Prof. Valle really supported me through the tough times and always responded to all my questions and somewhat silly ones but always tried to help. I trusted in his opinion as he is so highly regarded in the medical field for Nets. Due to Covid at the time I was unable to switch oncologist but this time last year whilst in Mexico after finding out that my disease was somewhat more complex , he knew how unhappy I felt with my current oncologist, he found a team in Glasgow he had good faith in. I was told I was unable to change to Glasgow . Thanks to his pushing , help and support I have a new team since last August, he said he would always help when he could , just to contact him. It’s not often you get such help and kindness when in this situation especially when your so vulnerable. My first oncologist had little or no faith. I feel I’d be in a worse off place than I am now. Not to be morbid but prognosis given I’d no longer be here.

How did I get to meet him? Paul was working at an event that Prof. Valle was chairing and we contacted him, he said he would be delighted to meet. He would squeeze in the time. He greeted me with a hug and a smile and asked me how I was, and said I look great! I said it’s all the good work I’m doing. When we got to serious chat , I didn’t have a lot of time to ask questions but just the fact that he hopes PRRT will help me for a period of time?Every patient responds differently. He told me there was no clinical trials on offer for pancreatic nets. Which saddened me but what can I do.
I just have to keep going for as long as possible on the holistic route . Thanks again to everyone for supporting and giving me this lifeline that I badly need. Huge Thanks to Prof.Valle.

First run done in our training to raise funds to Help Laura Heal. They say the first run is the hardest, it was! Thanks to my running buddy Steve for the 6:30am start!

Melbourne fundraising is underway!

To raise funds in Melbourne as part of Around the World for Laura - to help Laura continue to fight a rare cancer, I will be running 42km on 2 October 2022 - here is the course!