A young woman has posted a major update on her battle with brain cancer after she came down with the disease on the trip of a lifetime in Europe.
Sydney woman Jenaya Shaw, 21, started feeling nauseous and wobbly while she was travelling around Italy and Greece.
Suffering from headaches and losing sight in her left eye, Ms Shaw’s case baffled doctors in Europe, but when she cut her trip short and flew home to Australia in August, medical staff discovered a grade three brain tumor.
She went into intensive care and has since undergone three brain surgeries.
Ms Shaw took to social media on Sunday to describe what she had been through.
‘I don’t know really where to start but I thought I would update everyone with what’s happening,’ she wrote.
‘I just finished my 14th round of chemotherapy, I do this for 5 days every 28 days.
‘The last two MRI’s have shown shrinkage which is really good and it means the treatment is working.
Jenaya was travelling through Europe when she started experiencing headaches, nausea and vision loss
Ms Shaw posted an update on Sunday after spending months in hospital
‘Because where the tumor is it effects my walking and balance, so I’ve been doing intensive rehabilitation which is working.
‘As I had a breathing tube down my throat for 5 weeks in ICU it’s effected my talking and swallowing. I’ve been seeing a speech pathologist to help with that as well.’
Ms Shaw added: ‘This journey has been really tough, I lost my Aunty who was one of my biggest supporters, this has also shown me who my true friends are.
‘Thank you for the support, I know I can beat this.’
A friend created a GoFundMe to help Ms Shaw pay for treatment. It has since raised more than $50,000, surpassing an original goal of $35,000.
‘Having already endured three invasive brain surgeries, Jenaya has been robbed of her youth and all the dreams and aspirations that accompany it,’ campaign organiser Chelsea Ashe wrote.
‘The weight of grief and confusion settles heavily upon her, for how could such a cruel fate befall such a vibrant and healthy young woman?’
Her best friend, Christina Argi described Ms Shaw as the ‘kindest (and) most amazing person I know,’ and urged people to donate to the campaign.
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