HAVING a new baby is supposed to be one of the most joyous times of a mother’s life, but for 29-year-old Taylor Johnston it was marred by a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
Just one week after giving birth to her daughter Billie earlier this year, Johnston, of Rye, was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer and now faces an uncertain future and the trauma of having to spend time apart from her baby for treatment.
Her husband Jesse, a senior footballer at Rye Football Netball Club, said the family was trying to stay positive, which had been helped by community support.
“We are so grateful for all the support we have had from the club and the community, and at this time it is so important to stay strong for Bille, and for each other,” he said.
Rye Football Netball Club has organised a fundraising event for the family, who friend Shannon Chapman said had always given back to the club and the community.
“Both of them play and are really involved in helping their club and helping out in the community,” she said.
“Everyone who knows them is all the way behind them in this fight.”
Jesse Taylor said his wife’s illness came as a shock and was not discovered until she went to hospital for a caesarean section.
Polyps that were discovered were then sent for a biopsy, with further scans and tests revealing bone marrow cancer.
Doctors have not yet been able to determine the primary source of the cancer, and Jesse said he and Taylor are pretty much “in the dark” about the prognosis.
“We don’t really have a timeline of how this will go, but she’s been pretty sick and doctors wanted her to start chemotherapy, so every month we go to Moorabbin for that,” he said.
“The nausea from the chemo is one thing, but the hardest part for Taylor is being separated from Bille. She has already spent the first three weeks of her life in hospital, away from her, and that is such an important bonding time for mums and babies.
“Now, because of the chemo, she can’t do many things with her that a new mum should be enjoying.”
Jesse, a carpenter, has scaled back his workload to stay home and care for his wife and baby and says he is thankful that friends and even strangers have rallied behind the family.
The fundraising event is from 2pm to 7pm on Saturday 23 September at Rye Football Club, RJ Rowley Reserve, Melbourne Road, Rye. There will be children’s entertainment, live music, a silent auction and a live auction around 4pm.
People are asked to bring a share plate and there will be refreshments available at bar prices.
Anyone wishing to donate on the day can contact Rye Football Netball Club.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 5 September 2023
