A Kiwi mum and dad are battling to survive for their children after both being diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer within months of each other.
Auckland parents Graham and Mery Brooke-Smith were diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last year, with Graham's spreading to his spine and Mery's spreading to her spine and thigh bone.
"They have two young boys aged nine and 11 who are having to deal with the very real probability of losing both their mum and dad," said a Givealittlle page created by friends to raise funds for the couple's treatment.
Graham was diagnosed in January last year, while Mery was diagnosed in May.
The Givealittle page said the couple was facing crippling costs to try and live longer for their children.
"In the hope of prolonging his life as long as possible, [Graham] has been on a cancer medication that is not funded by Pharmac. His ongoing treatment will cost his family at least $100,000.
"Mery's treatment is also not funded and will cost $90,000 for six months and then $2200 every month after that."
Both lived a healthy lifestyle and neither were smokers, so their diagnoses remained a mystery, the Givealittle page added.
"Please consider helping to fund their treatments so that their boys can have their mum and dad for as long as possible," the page said. "Your generosity is greatly appreciated."
