Just a few months ago, Albion Park Rail resident Kaitlyn Williams was living a life typical of a young woman. The 31-year-old and her husband Jordy were renovating the home they had purchased, and she was nurturing a career in website design and digital marketing. Then Ms Williams started experiencing symptoms that seemed relatively minor at first, but led to a diagnosis of a highly rare and aggressive cancer.
Few signs of serious illness
Her brother, Mark Haydin, said the illness began with migraines and stomach cramps, the latter of which his sister put down to her period. She started experiencing more bloating and increased pain, but did not think too much of it until the bloating continued to get worse and did not go away. Ms Williams went to hospital, where it was discovered that she had a large tumour that covered her abdomen.
She was sent to the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, where doctors found more cancer in her lungs, breast, and lymph nodes. They suspect it has reached her brain, too. Ms Williams has remained in hospital in Sydney, where she has undergone numerous biopsies, had a large amount of fluid drained from her abdomen, and started on blood thinners to treat clots. She is about to embark on her first round of chemotherapy, the beginning of six months of an intensive treatment regimen that will also involve immunotherapy. The cancer is so rare that Ms Williams's specialist has made contact with experts in Germany to gain a better understanding of the illness.
"You wouldn't have even known unless she went into the hospital, because there weren't many signs," Mr Haydin said. He said his little sister's diagnosis had left the family speechless. "We didn't think it was real," he said. "We thought, 'This can't be true'. Everybody was crying, emotional, and it's still hard to understand that she's going through this." The family has also been left reeling by the loss of Ms Williams's grandmother, Esme Jean Williss, on April 9 - the day before Ms Williams found out she had cancer.
'Heart of gold'
Ms Williams grew up in Mount Warrigal, the youngest of four children and the only girl. She is a doting aunty to her brothers' children, and an animal lover who adores her cat, Indy. "If you know Kaitlyn, you know she has a heart of gold," Mr Haydin said. "She's the kind of person who's always worried about everyone else first." Ms Williams worked alongside Mr Haydin in his web design business, but her illness means she cannot work. Her partner of 12 years and husband of six, Jordy, is an auto electrician and has been by his wife's side through these awful weeks. "They're very much in love with each other," Mr Haydin said. Ms Williams's mother, Christine, has also been staying in Sydney to support her daughter.
Mr Haydin has created an online fundraiser to help his sister and brother-in-law with travel costs and living costs while Ms Williams fights the stage four cancer. Importantly, the money raised will help cover their lost income, so they can focus on Ms Williams's treatment and Mr Williams can be with her without worrying about covering their mortgage. "We're hoping that she is one of those miracle survivors, but it's going to be a very long recovery," Mr Haydin said. The fundraiser for Ms Williams can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/help-our-kaitlyn-fight-a-rare-and-aggressive-cancer-at-31.
