The name Zoie is Greek (ζωή) for, life.
A vibrant and compassionate young woman with an enormous zest for life, Zoie dedicated the last few years of her life to ambassador work for several charities – even during her own battle with blood cancer.
Story
“Zoie’s Journey in her own Words” -
written February 2021, 12 months before her passing from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL)
My name is Zoie, yes with an “i”. I was diagnosed with ALL on the 29th December, 2016, a great way to start the New Year!
I had no idea what was ahead of me, especially when things started to go wrong. I don’t remember much as I lived in ICU for a while, but I do know I was definitely fighting for my life. I am titled the “complicated” patient and tend to cause some sort of trouble wherever I am. These complications are neverending and have significantly changed me both physically and mentally.
Even though I had started year 12, I was unable to complete it, meaning I wasn’t able to graduate. What a big let-down! And to make matters worse I turned 18 in the March of 2017 and unfortunately this meant I wasn’t able to celebrate my birthday the way a normal 18-year-old would.
I finished treatment in March 2019 but unfortunately, I relapsed in April. This meant starting treatment all over again but much more intense. I was being prepared for a bone marrow transplant but this idea was ruled out as I have significant liver damage. So, for some time I was literally in limbo, not knowing what my next treatment would be until I was given the option to try CAR-T cell therapy in Melbourne. This treatment is fairly new – I was the 5th leukaemia patient in Australia to receive it but it only worked for nine months. I relapsed again in June 2020 – this time my leukaemia’s cell structure had changed causing it to become ‘sticky’. This ‘new leukaemia’ latched on to my left eye’s optic nerve which caused a third nerve palsy. The diagnosis was only determined after major brain surgery, where a neurologist biopsied the sticky substance and discovered it was leukaemia. This diagnosis resulted in more treatment.
I underwent chemotherapy once again, which caused chronic pain in my body. I was left in hospital as the world around me continued to flash past. The chemo I received was intravenous as well as intrathecal. While this treatment killed off the majority of the cancer, there was still the sticky substance in my brain. The only treatment left was radiation.
At the end of 2020 I received full cranial and spinal radiation and miraculously, after three and a half weeks of radiation, my eye decided to work again. After a year of not being able to use my left eye, I now have my sight back.
It is now 2021 and I am hoping my four-year journey is over.
zoie’s mission
01
FROM ICU to $100k+
During Zoie’s time in ICU, her family and friends formed a team and raised money for the World’s Greatest Shave. They became the first school team in Australia to raise $100k+.
02
A VOICE for youth
Zoie was an ambassador for the Sony Foundation (YOU CAN), Light the Night (Leukaemia Foundation) and many more – giving a voice to young people facing blood cancer.
03
HOPE for the future
In 2018 Zoie reunited her team to take part in the Relay for Life. They funded cancer research and created more awareness for adolescent and young adult cancer.
Zoie’s unwavering desire to give back inspired her final wish – to progress towards a cure for complicated ALL that takes so many young adult lives each year. Her passion has become the driving force behind our Foundation.