This story is from this morning’s Manly Daily. I know Audrey, if you can help please do so:
YOU wouldn’t know Audrey Myrden has had hardship in her life. She wouldn’t tell you this.
To this young Manly wife to Barry and mother-of-three, her life has been charmed.
“I have been blessed with these wonderful children and a wonderful husband,’’ she said.
She doesn’t have a sign on her that says her mother died in her arms when she was 15, or that she had stage one breast cancer at the age of 27, or that her brother in Canada was recently electrocuted and died.
She is still thinking positively despite these hardships and despite that in March she was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiform with PNet features a terminal brain tumour.
She was told the cancer is considered one of the rarest in the world with as few as 55 cases diagnosed globally.
Mrs Myrden’s is the first in Australia. She is presently undergoing the most aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment available.
“I don’t see any benefit in having negative thoughts,’’ she said. “Another seizure landed me back in hospital recently and when I looked around I saw a lot of people worse off. “There’s always someone worse off than yourself.’’
She said she doesn’t feel at all sorry for herself but for her family she is saddened.
“That’s the hardest thing seeing my kids (her three boys are Charlie, Jack, and Declan),’’ she said. “I came home with a bald head this week and my son Jack asked me to put my hat back on.’’
Audrey is well known to the Manly community as the former manager of The Barking Frog restaurant/cafe for about eight years, and helping to bring in an organic canteen at St Mary’s Primary School.
Barry is also a staunch member of the community having played rugby with the Manly Blues for about a decade.The Myrdens’ entire family is in Canada and, according to Mrs Myrden, their friends in Manly have become their surrogate family.
Because the breast cancer precludes Mrs Myrden from taking out life insurance there is a fundraiser for the Myrden family to be held at the International College of Management, Manly, on August 15.
The event is called Audrey’s Wish and money will go to assisting the family. “I would love to start a fund for others in the same situation,’’ she said.There is also a golf day at Manly Golf Course on Thursday, July 30.
For donations and more information about all activities go online to http://www.audreyswish.com.au.
For general information on cancer visit cancercouncil.com.au
