Humbled by support

DENISE PIPER

OVERWHELMING community support is helping a Whangarei family fight their toughest battle yet.

Steve Nyssen is the father of two young boys and husband of Kathleen. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer about two months ago.

The tumour had been growing undetected for two years and most commonly affects people in their 70s.

Steve is just 38 and had been very healthy.

Steve had surgery to remove the tumour and a kidney but was hit by an infection that collapsed his lungs during recovery.

He is now starting to feel better but the family is dealing with news that the cancer has spread to a lymph node and the future is uncertain.

The family has been supported by overwhelming love and support from the community throughout their ordeal, Kathleen says.

"We just want to say thank you."

A group of friends led by Neridah Hawkins arranged a monster garage sale to raise money for the family.

The whole experience was very humbling, Steve says.

"People were just turning up and giving money.

"One guy bought a sausage for $50. It's hard times, people can't afford to be generous."

Kathleen says many friends found it a good way to help out, with one saying it was the best thing he had ever done in his life.

"Another friend said: `We can't get rid of the cancer but this is something that we can do'."

The money will be a big help.

Steve was a telecommunications engineer for Gen-i but has been unable to work since the surgery.

The alternative treatments that he is now on are also very expensive.

The Nyssens have had support from the local church and St Francis Xavier School as well as friends and family.

The generosity has been hard to receive, Kathleen says, and the family can't wait to return the favours.

Steve, like any good Kiwi bloke, is missing beer and his favourite foods now that he is on a special diet.

But he knows life could be worse – he has visited a Palestinian refugee camp in Israel.

"It made me realise that I should never complain about things in life."

Steve has also travelled to the United States where he met Kathleen and the family would like to go to Mexico and Alaska.

Kathleen says they could not have got through the past two months without all the support.

"It's a scary time.

"Anybody who doesn't have support, I just feel for them," Kathleen says.

- © Fairfax NZ News