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Article ‘I’m 31, Have Four Kids, Stage Three Cancer And We’re Homeless’

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In May, New South Wales mum Lee-Ella Heatherill gave birth to her fourth baby. It should have been the happiest time of her life. But a week later, she discovered a lump in her breast.

The 31-year-old mum was recovering from a traumatic birth, which involved an emergency c-section, after placental abruption. So initially, there wasn’t too much concern about the lump.

“They thought it was mastitis for ages, so they did ultrasounds and all that kind of stuff, and it ended up being like a 10 cent piece size lump,” Lee-Ella told Mouths of Mums. “And by time I was diagnosed in May, it was more than 90% of my boob. They did a biopsy, and that’s when they found out that it was stage three cancer. And so I started chemo, and it was probably June, and that hasn’t gone straight forward.”

Lee-Ella Heatherill

Lee-Ella Heatherill


After months of difficult chemo and adverse reactions to treatment, Lee-Ella is now facing a double mastectomy as well as surgery on her ovaries, after it was discovered she carries the BRCA gene. All of these comes as the family desperately searches for a permanent home.

Lee-Ella, who has been a Mouths of Mums member for several years, explained that for the past three months they’ve been living in emergency accommodation, and even in their car. While they weren’t impacted by floods, the disaster has meant accommodation is difficult to find on the NSW-Queensland border.

“We’ve been applying for rentals. It’s just, we’re right on the border from the last flood, and there’s still so many homeless people here. You go to the inspection, there’s just so many people. We’re just applying for everything and anything, but we just can’t get anything. And then we’re even, like a we like put in housing applications, but they can take ages. It’s just easier if we go and stay with my partner’s family in Tasmania.”

Lee-Ella Heatherill

Lee-Ella Heatherill

The hope is the family can settle in with her partner’s mum before Lee-Ella’s surgery.

“With my seven month old, it’s gonna be hard, because he’s still really clingy. He’s teething at the moment, so I won’t even be able to hold him because of the drainage, and it will be so much easier to have a set place.”

The family’s funds are already depleted due to out-of-pocket medical costs, which have prevented Lee-Ella from doing some treatments.

“It was like $800 or something, for me just have my biopsy, to find out I had cancer. My partner stepped back part time at work to try and help with the kids. So that means less money. A lot of it is covered, otherwise I probably wouldn’t be able to afford any of it, because they did say that they did want me to do at one stage this immunotherapy, but it was gonna be like, 60 grand. And I’m like, yeah, I don’t have that sorry.”

Lee-Ella Heatherill

Lee-Ella’s preschool community has started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for their medical expenses and living costs, and take some of the burden off her shoulders.

“I think I’ve just kind of been in that mum zone where you just keep going and you’re doing it for them little people. I don’t think I’ve fully processed it … just taking it day by day really.”

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Comments

  • It is an awful situation to be in having to weigh up medical expenses against food, housing and the myriad of other expenses incurred with 4 youngsters. I do hope some of the aid agencies are able to assist you – Centrelink with payments, maybe a medical company with a trial for the medications you need and hopefully the gofundme page may bring in some money. The page only seems to work if you have had some publicity by the media, so maybe that’s another avenue to look at.

    Reply

  • I’m sorry but this is disturbing news. She can’t afford the treatment to save her life but the government will pay to refurbish a house they may only live in for a couple of years. How about making treatment for cancer patients doing it hard FREE. I know what it’s like because I lost my husband just over 6 years ago to cancer. I wish all the best for her and her family.

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  • Truely heartbreaking that a family has to choose between life saving treatment vs money. Why is our country not beyond this

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  • Is this really Australia in 2024?? Unbelievably sad that this family are having to go through so much stress and trauma and you have our “we understand” politicians accepting free upgrade flights and purchasing ridiculously priced properties. This family deserve better and the Government should take a long hard look at themselves and hang their heads in shame shame shame. My thoughts and prayers that a suitable home is located soon for them and Lee-Ella gets well very very soon. God bless you xxx

    • Don’t turn a sad story political it’s totally unnecessary to turn it into politics

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  • Sometimes these things hit us and we have no idea how we will cope but something always happens and we get there.
    Can your partner apply for Carers Payment and Carers Allowance for looking after you? Check with Centerlink as it all helps.
    Try your local church group for free or discounted groceries.

    Reply

  • What a terrible situation to be in. I do hope all goes well for you and the family and the Go Fund Me page is a success. Having the stress of living situation as well as treatment definitely is not fun. Come on Realestate agents step up and help this family out, give them a home to help less the stress this family is under.

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  • Let’s hope the go fund me can help and that all goes well with the treatment.

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  • Oh my word. I’m so sorry this has happened to you and your beautiful family. All my love. I hope you can find permanent accommodation soon and that you can get this treatment. You deserve only wonderful things and I hope and pray they reach you soon. You are strong and beautiful and an absolute inspiration. Thank you for sharing your story.

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  • I am so very sorry you are going through this, I feel for you. My friend went through a very similar experience a year ago with stage 4 breast cancer and had to do chemotherapy etc. she is now clear and slowly getting her life back and is now in the process of looking to have breast implants as she too had to have a double vasectomy. I was sorry to read you can’t find accommodation for your family, I hope by moving in with your mother in law this will relieve some pressure u til you can find accommodation. Everything seems to be all at once for you and my heart goes out to you for being so brave.

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  • Gosh I can’t even begin to imagine how scary and tough this must be! In more ways then one! Wow traumatic birth then diagnosis and homeless.. ouch I truly hope everything it’s turning around for you and your fan, huge love to you

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  • Health problems are always the worst especially with young kids. Hope everything works out

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  • So her partner was living in Tasmania while she was in NSW or Queensland? That must have been difficult even before anuthing else happened.

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  • Oh goodness, this is just heartbreaking. I really hope they are given a rental property soon. On top of the dreadful stress related to her health, worrying about whether her kids have a roof over their heads is so not needed. The government *NEEDS* to lower the age for free breast checks!! We are seeing young women go through this, to have the age at 50 is too high! I really hope everything works out well for this mum and her family.

    • I believe you can get a free mammogram from age 40. Women who have been referred for a mammogram by their doctor may have to pay a fee. While there is a Medicare rebate for mammograms, many private imaging clinics charge more than the Medicare Schedule Fee. This means that women who use these services must pay the balance.

      • But I agree, they should get top priority to get a community or social housing property. I just can’t begin the imagine the stress of being homeless with 4 kids (underwhich a baby) and going through her cancer battle and the financial stress relating to the medical costs, which would be good if it could be covered by Medicare

      • You are right, 40 is when it’s free and 50 is when it’s recommended to start being checked. A family member who just turned 30 had a scare recently and had to pay for the check up, the mammogram, the biopsy. Here on the sunny coast you can’t find a single GP who bulk bills as a new patient so immediately you’re paying to start the process. I don’t know how someone who is in an unfortunate financial position would navigate this.

      • It is sad that the Medicare rebate for patients has not kept pace with inflation, making it increasingly difficult for bulk billing practices to cover their operational costs. As a result, an increasing number of clinics are transitioning towards mixed or private billing models to ensure their financial sustainability. The move away from bulk billing is not without its consequences. A primary concern is the potential impact on healthcare accessibility for disadvantaged patients.

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  • Aw bless, that’s a lot of concerns on their shoulders. Clearly the medical treatment is top-priority and I hope and pray they’re able to gather the funds for their medical expenses and living costs. I hope for now the family can settle in with her partner’s mum before Lee-Ella’s surgery and that this surgery can happen soon !

    Reply
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