Kasie-Lea's story

For anyone, being diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and getting through the treatment is an incredible feat on its own. However, the last year has also brought other extreme challenges for 36-year-old Cantabrian Kasie-Lea Drury, who lived through the trauma of the two tragic Christchurch earthquakes, and lost her home to liquefaction.

Kasie-Lea, who is originally from Melbourne, moved to Christchurch 7 years ago to work for Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ). She worked as a flight attendant before joining the head office team to work in regulatory compliance.

Kasie-Lea first noticed that she had enlarged lymph nodes in her groin two years ago. She was also having night sweats and had lost a significant amount of weight. She went to her GP who ran blood tests that
came back clear. However when more lymph nodes became enlarged Kasie-Lea went back to see her GP, who ordered more tests.

“When the doctor called me I knew there must be something wrong as they don’t call you about test results unless it’s serious. When I got there he said: ‘the news isn’t good, it’s cancer’. I was absolutely shell shocked.”

“I always thought that cancer was something that happened to other people and wouldn’t happen to me. I didn’t really know what lymphoma was. Although I’d had a friend with Hodgkin lymphoma I hadn’t
really put two and two together and realised it was a form of cancer.”

Kasie-Lea says the hardest thing for her to do once she was diagnosed was to call her mother who was based in Dubai.

My mum was amazing she came over and spent five weeks with me as I underwent all the testing, and then came back again with my little sister who is 12. There is no way I could have got through the last year
without the support of my family. I didn’t know what I needed anyone to do for me, but my mum just did it without asking, which was priceless.”

After a series of tests including CT scans, Kasie-Lea was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. She was told it was very rare to see a case of this kind of lymphoma in someone in their 30s.

Kasie-Lea received fertility treatment prior to beginning her chemotherapy.

“It was really surreal. I had always thought I was doing the right thing waiting to have babies with the right person. The next thing I knew I was injecting myself so my eggs could be removed and frozen.”

Then the first earthquake hit Christchurch on the 4th of September.

“At that point I was just trying to get through every day. However it was good to keep busy so I went into work to provide support after the earthquake.”

Kasie–Lea commenced her lymphoma treatment on the 2nd of November. This involved six infusions of R-CHOP chemotherapy.

“It felt so strange turning up at the hospital. I didn’t look like how I thought a cancer patient should, I didn’t look sick, I wasn’t even feeling sick.”

Before beginning treatment Kasie-Lea’s specialist suggested that she speak with another patient about one of the side affects of her treatment – hair loss.

“I spoke to a woman who showed me a photo of herself with lovely long brown locks. It was lovely to sit and talk to someone else who had cancer, we laughed and we cried. She took off her headscarf which was such a humbling and empowering experience. I was so impressed that despite the fact she had been in treatment for months she was so strong and positive.”

On commencing treatment Kasie-Lea had a reaction which meant her body came out in a rash, and an antihistamine had to be administered. This slowed the treatment down, meaning the infusions could take up

“No one can prepare you for what chemotherapy is like, at first the nausea was extreme and the headaches were excruciating. Thank goodness for the anti- nausea drugs and painkillers,” she says.
“Then things started to change, sometimes I’d be feeling ok afterwards and other times I felt like a train wreck. The whole experience can best be described as a four month ride on a roller coaster.”

Kasie-Lea says the most exciting thing throughout this time was looking at her blood tests to see what was happening.

“When I could see everything begin to stabilise it felt like I’d reached a huge milestone.” Kasie-Lea finished her final round of chemotherapy on a Thursday and then went back to the hospital for another appointment the following Tuesday. The date was February 22. She called into town to pick up some boots and then headed home to St Albans.

“I was home for about 20 minutes when the quake hit. It felt like it was a big one. My book case had fallen down, drawers were flung out of all my cabinets and the contents of my pantry were all over the floor, I thought ‘here we go again’.”

Kasie-Lea went next door to check on her neighbours and when she returned back home she heard a dripping noise and noticed a puddle of what she thought was mud in the corner of her kitchen.

Then very suddenly liquefaction started flooding in everywhere. Kasie-Lea hurriedly tried to save her possessions but many of them were already destroyed. The floor inside her home was covered a foot-and-a half deep with liquefaction and Kasie-Lea was forced to evacuate the house.

‘It was really tough I had a recovery plan in place that involved being in my home and then I didn’t have one. My home was my piece of heaven and I loved it. I’ve always considered myself a glass half full person but at that point in time my glass was well and truly half empty’ she says.

Kasie-Lea moved out to her family’s property in Fernside. Her family and friends helped move her belongings as she wasn’t allowed back in central Christchurch due to the poor sanitation.

“At first I was so angry, I just kept thinking after everything I’d been through, why me? Why my house? However over time I’ve realised I have been lucky to move to the country. It’s been a blessing in disguise as I haven’t had to deal with the constant shakes and have been staying with my family on a quiet and serene property in a lovely warm home.”

Kasie-Lea is now back at work full time and is very grateful for all the support her colleagues have shown her.

“It’s like working with a big family, everyone has been amazing. It’s been challenging going back to work as my job requires me to be on the ball and think on my feet. Chemo-brain really does exist, and I am still getting my energy back,” she says. She has also found a new home out by the beach.

“I have learnt to take things easy and not to expect too much of myself. I’ve also learnt what amazing people I have in my life. I was so grateful for the people that just did things without me having to ask or turned up with little gifts to keep my spirits up. People often tell you to let them know if you need anything, but when you’re sick sometimes you have no idea what you need, I really appreciated the simple gestures of kindness."