A Shoalhaven family has lost everything in a house fire, just months after their youngest daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia.
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Terri Lang's Sanctuary Point home burned down on Friday, September 27, destroying the home and all its contents.
Terri grew up in Ulladulla and has lived in the Shoalhaven all her life.
She received the devastating phone call on Friday night while in Sydney where her two-year-old daughter Kyesha-Lee Minuti is receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The cause of the fire isn't known, and while Terri's three older children, aged 13, 11 and three years were staying with friends and family, the news hit hard.
"We're lucky that nobody was hurt but everything's gone and it's hard to replace," Terri said.
"I think it's still sinking in."
It's been a very difficult few months for the family. After Kyesha-Lee started running persistent fevers, a blood test at Shoalhaven Hospital finally confirmed the little girl was suffering from leukaemia.
Kyesha-Lee and Terri were taken straight to Sydney Children's Hospital and have been there since June 11.
The brave toddler has undergone two rounds of chemotherapy, with another starting soon. Her treatment will continue for the next two years.
She's (Kyesha-Lee) my biggest inspiration.
- Terri Lang
While it's been a very tough time, Terri said her daughter's strength has kept her going.
"She's such a little fighter, she even got gastro just after she was diagnosed but she's kept on going through it all. She's my biggest inspiration," she said.
"It's all been a struggle but my kids keep me going and keep me strong. I've got be strong for them."
With Kyesha-Lee possibly given clearance to enjoy a little time back on the South Coast before her next round of chemotherapy starts, Terri said the family has been fortunate the real estate agency they were renting through has already secured them another rental property.
Replacing all their furniture is adding up though, as is the financial pressure they've experienced through their many trips to Sydney.
Terri has started a Facebook fundraiser and said the support she's received already has been amazing.
"Recently someone who I don't even know donated $1000 and since the fire there's been another $1500 donated. I just can't believe there's people like that out there," Terri said.
"The Sanctuary Point community has been amazing.
"When you're going through this, you're thinking 'how am I going to do this', but having the support that's there has made a big difference."
To donate, search 'Kyesha-lees leukemia treatment medical fundraiser' on Facebook.
About acute acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
- Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. ALL is characterised by an overproduction of immature white blood cells, called lymphoblasts or leukaemic blasts.
- More than 300 adults and children are diagnosed with ALL each year in Australia.
- ALL can occur at any age but is more common in young children (0-14 years) who represent close to 60 per cent of all cases. ALL is the most common type of childhood leukaemia.
