On 28 October, 25-year-old Makayla was driving home from work when she noticed her neck was swollen. Once home, Makayla noticed a lump just above her collarbone.
Makayla also had a persistent cough, but she had already been sick for a month before that – so she assumed her swollen neck was related.
She went back to work the next day. “I showed a client, who used to be a nurse, the lump, and he said I needed to get it seen straight away.”
In a few days, Makayla saw her regular GP, had an ultrasound done, confirmed that she had an abnormal mass in her neck, and had a CT scan. She was glad to get a break then, as her family went on a holiday to the West Coast.
“I was pretty sick, but I really wanted to go. We don’t get to go on many holidays.”
When she got back home, she saw an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist who noticed her chest was swollen too. The specialist wanted to schedule a biopsy but Makayla needed to be in Auckland for a work conference.
“Later that day, he said he could do it tomorrow. Then, miraculously, he said he could do it now! I was like oh, jeez, OK! I didn’t even know what was happening, or what a biopsy was, but I said OK, let’s go for it.”
Makayla had the biopsy done in her neck. She was in Auckland at her work conference when she received the phone call.
“Hearing that I had Hodgkin lymphoma was emotional. I was glad that I was in Auckland and could distract myself.”
“I came home and saw the haematologist who told me how serious it was, and that she didn’t know how I was still going with having stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. I had to stop working – and that was a big shock! In the movies, people with cancer still work and do activities. But I had to isolate, and I couldn’t even go to church.”
Makayla also had to think about IVF, as the treatment could impact her ability to have children. She never thought this would be something she’d have to think about at 25.
Makayla found ways to cope with, and make treatment more bearable. At her chemo appointments, she asked her friends and family to vote on ‘colour polls’, and choose a colour she could theme her chemo visit around. So far, she’s worn clothes and painted her nails orange, purple, and green, to name a few. Some people have joined in with the colour themes too.
She also had help from LBC’s Deb. “Deb sent us petrol vouchers to help me get to my appointments, and food vouchers too. She visited me in hospital when I was having one of my chemo infusions and gave us information packs to read. She’s been really helpful.”
Makayla is still going through her treatment, but feels positive about where her journey is headed.
“My faith is the most important thing in my life. I’ve just given it all to God and said to myself, ‘I know that He will be my strength when I’m weak. I have a lot of peace about it, and I’m very grateful for everyone that is helping and supporting me through this journey.”