Petra Harmer-Shrowder

Hi there!

I'm making a difference and losing 20 kilos in 100 days from today = New Years Eve for a cause that's close to my heart. I’d appreciate any contribution, big or small.

Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly through to my charity.

Thanks so much for your support!

Please read below our story.

Brian and Petra Harmer-Shrowder

Almost four years ago we were living in Sydney and my husband Brian (who many of you know) had just handed in his notice, leaving the stability of a company that he had been with for 14 years to embrace new challenges in Melbourne. At this time Brian had started losing weight and we weren’t sure what was causing this. After an X-ray his doctor in the city seemed happy that nothing was untoward. I, however, wasn’t convinced so I booked Brian in to see my doctor in Bondi Junction and thankfully, on her advice and prompt action, Brian’s life was saved.  She sent him for a CT scan and thereafter we were swept into a deluge of appointments within but a few days.

It began with our surgeon who sent Brian immediately to have a series of tests, a PET scan plus an endoscopy, colonoscopy and blood tests. Within a matter of days we heard the words that you really don’t want to hear --- that Brian had one year to live unless he had surgery for pancreatic cancer.

Brian was one of the lucky ones as the survival rate is a little over 8%. However he was admitted to a cancer trial using a new drug called Abraxane mixed with Gembytamine under the watchful eye of one of Australia’s leading oncologists, Professor David Goldstein the trial treatment commenced in Sydney. The plan was for Brian to have three cycles of chemotherapy to shrink the cancer tumours and then have the surgery to remove his gall bladder, duodenum and part of his pancreas. This surgery is known as the Wipple, and we were very fortunate to have the leading surgeon Dr Karoush Haghighi do this at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney.

The chemo, as one can imagine, knocked Brian around and reduced his strength as it was killing off his good cells as well as his bad. Upon the surgeon’s advice, we ensured that Brian was taking a supplement food to bolster his strength and assist him to fight the fight prior to surgery. Maintaining his weight at that stage was critical.

After an eight and a half hour surgery he had to start his slow process of recovery.  Money was an issue as our resources were depleted. Policies were drawn upon and everything could be done was done to assist us to keep going whilst Brian had to take time to rebuild his strength and start rebuilding his body weight.

To say this was hard doesn’t come close. It has been a very long and ardous journey…there have been buckets of tears shed, being a carer is hard watching the person you love in such a fragile state. Yes there have been times when you feel helpless but you remember it is your job to keep that loved one alive. Love is a wonderful thing. It allows so much positivity to flow: friends, family, prayers, churches, and holistic medicine --Reiki masters – Kinesiologists --all have helped. Inspiring me to learn Kinesiology and Reiki to help with Brian’s rehabilitation.

Being out in nature is a wonderful thing: walks, cycling, trees lakes, and beaches all help give us a sense of peace and well-being. After a year of treatment Brian resumed work this time in Melbourne with his new company they kept his job open for him and have been very supportive all the while. Brian is Crisis Specialist for Edelman, a global public relations company.  Petra is a Marketing Communications Consultant, Reiki Practitioner, Kinesiologist and Food and Lifestyle Blogger and is working on a manuscript called ‘Life with Cancer.’

Every three months Brian goes to Monash Hospital and has bloods, weight and CT scans done. With every meal Brian has to take digestive enzymes called Creon so the good nutrients are absorbed into his body. Brian’s cancer trial will continue to monitor him to ensure that his cancer doesn’t return. This may not be open ended so it is imperative that a solution to this horrible cancer be found.  

We were very blessed to have had so many people helping us with our journey for Brian to live and, God willing, this will continue, as we need to keep fighting the fight.

Brian’s immune system is compromised and earlier this year he had toxic shock with complete organ failure. Thankfully again he was saved through the wonderful medical staff at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Now our journey is to keep Brian as well as we can through the use of regular appointments with his specialists, a healthy diet, exercise and a positive outlook.

The action shot of Brian shows that all things are possible through the help of cancer research, cancer trials and a will to live.

My aim now is to draw attention to this horrible cancer that is taking too many lives and help others have the opportunities to help save their loved ones. Cancer research is the key and through fundraising with the Avner Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Ltd hopefully answers will unfold and help given to the many.

Please join me by lending your support by sponsoring me with my quest to raise money through my healthy weight loss of 20 kilos.