Erin has always been a trailblazer.
A qualified motorcycle technician, she became the first Australian woman to complete the Harley-Davidson specialist training, and later, the first female field technician for Crown Forklifts. She's no stranger to a challenge and beating expectations.
But nothing could have prepared Erin for the challenge she had to face as a young mum with brain cancer.
In November 2022, Erin had a toddler and a newborn when she found herself feeling unwell and extremely tired.
She asked her parents to come over and help with the kids so she could have a shower and a rest - a scenario many new mums know well.
But after taking the kids for a walk, Erin's mum popped in to check on her.
"As she entered the room, I began seizing," Erin recalls.
"I still can't believe how incredibly lucky I was to have asked for help that day - and that my parents were actually there to see my seizure and get help."
Erin's mum rolled her to her side and waited with her for the ambulance, while she had further seizures. For Erin's young family, the days that followed were chaotic and frightening.
"My daughter was still breastfeeding, and my son was so little when I disappeared to the hospital," she recalls.
"Everyone was scrambling to get my daughter to take a bottle and trying different formulas; my mum was caught up caring for my son; my husband and dad were running back and forth to the shops; and my sister-in-law was cuddling my little baby girl tirelessly trying to get her fed.
"It was truly a family effort that week and I can only image how traumatic it was for everyone."
CT and MRI scans followed, and within two weeks, Erin was having brain surgery.
In January 2023, Erin was diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma.
Surgery hadn't been able to remove the tumour and was so invasive it affected her vision. For three long days, she was terrified she would never see her children's faces again. Thankfully, Erin's vision improved, but as she still has no peripheral vision, she is no longer able to drive.
"Not being able to drive, especially with two small children in car seats, is challenging to say the least," Erin says.
"I can't take them to activities or parties, even to friends' houses, while my husband - a shiftworker - is at work, which makes me feel like I'm letting them down."
In early 2023, Erin began treatment: six weeks of radiation, followed by oral and IV chemotherapy.
Her children weren't allowed to join her in the clinic, but her husband made sure they were never far away.
"I would pack them snacks and my husband would host carpark picnics through my radiation and take them for walks or drives through my chemo," Erin says.
"That way, they were still close enough to give me moral support."
Treatment, work and motherhood proved an enormous juggle, and Erin had to step away from her career - something she'd worked so hard to build.
"I'm still unable to drive, I get anxious with taking the bus too far and a little scatterbrained, so I've not been able to find suitable paid work, but I can't claim any Centrelink assistance," she explains.
Through it all, Erin found comfort and support in Mummy's Wish.
"They gave me two beautiful bears so I could record messages to my children, a gorgeous book which I read to them often, and financial vouchers, which have been extremely helpful," she says.
"My daughter loves animals and finds the book quite magical. My son is so smart and loves to read - he reads a book independently each night at four years old.
"It honestly plays on my heartstrings and makes me a little nervous about our future, but I like knowing they will always have those things.
"My navigator Jane is such a lovely person to talk with - I feel truly heard. She is still there for me, and now Mummy's Wish is part of Rare Cancers Australia, I've been introduced to Royce and invited to the local meet-and-greets, meeting more Mummy's Wish friends."
Alongside the support from Mummy's Wish, Erin has also created her own group in her local area, the Illawarra Cancer Social Group, to connect in-person with others who have cancer.
"It's a place for anyone with any cancer diagnosis to connect, meet up for coffee or walks, vent, cry and laugh," Erin says.
"This group has been very therapeutic for me and I've been fortunate to share Mummy's Wish and Rare Cancers Australia with our members, recommending the bears and books to parents."
Erin's advice for other mums with cancer
A qualified motorcycle technician, she became the first Australian woman to complete the Harley-Davidson specialist training, and later, the first female field technician for Crown Forklifts. She's no stranger to a challenge and beating expectations.
But nothing could have prepared Erin for the challenge she had to face as a young mum with brain cancer.
In November 2022, Erin had a toddler and a newborn when she found herself feeling unwell and extremely tired.
She asked her parents to come over and help with the kids so she could have a shower and a rest - a scenario many new mums know well.
But after taking the kids for a walk, Erin's mum popped in to check on her.
"As she entered the room, I began seizing," Erin recalls.
"I still can't believe how incredibly lucky I was to have asked for help that day - and that my parents were actually there to see my seizure and get help."
Erin's mum rolled her to her side and waited with her for the ambulance, while she had further seizures. For Erin's young family, the days that followed were chaotic and frightening.
"My daughter was still breastfeeding, and my son was so little when I disappeared to the hospital," she recalls.
"Everyone was scrambling to get my daughter to take a bottle and trying different formulas; my mum was caught up caring for my son; my husband and dad were running back and forth to the shops; and my sister-in-law was cuddling my little baby girl tirelessly trying to get her fed.
"It was truly a family effort that week and I can only image how traumatic it was for everyone."
CT and MRI scans followed, and within two weeks, Erin was having brain surgery.
In January 2023, Erin was diagnosed with a grade 2 astrocytoma.
Surgery hadn't been able to remove the tumour and was so invasive it affected her vision. For three long days, she was terrified she would never see her children's faces again. Thankfully, Erin's vision improved, but as she still has no peripheral vision, she is no longer able to drive.
"Not being able to drive, especially with two small children in car seats, is challenging to say the least," Erin says.
"I can't take them to activities or parties, even to friends' houses, while my husband - a shiftworker - is at work, which makes me feel like I'm letting them down."
In early 2023, Erin began treatment: six weeks of radiation, followed by oral and IV chemotherapy.
Her children weren't allowed to join her in the clinic, but her husband made sure they were never far away.
"I would pack them snacks and my husband would host carpark picnics through my radiation and take them for walks or drives through my chemo," Erin says.
"That way, they were still close enough to give me moral support."
Treatment, work and motherhood proved an enormous juggle, and Erin had to step away from her career - something she'd worked so hard to build.
"I'm still unable to drive, I get anxious with taking the bus too far and a little scatterbrained, so I've not been able to find suitable paid work, but I can't claim any Centrelink assistance," she explains.
Through it all, Erin found comfort and support in Mummy's Wish.
"They gave me two beautiful bears so I could record messages to my children, a gorgeous book which I read to them often, and financial vouchers, which have been extremely helpful," she says.
"My daughter loves animals and finds the book quite magical. My son is so smart and loves to read - he reads a book independently each night at four years old.
"It honestly plays on my heartstrings and makes me a little nervous about our future, but I like knowing they will always have those things.
"My navigator Jane is such a lovely person to talk with - I feel truly heard. She is still there for me, and now Mummy's Wish is part of Rare Cancers Australia, I've been introduced to Royce and invited to the local meet-and-greets, meeting more Mummy's Wish friends."
Alongside the support from Mummy's Wish, Erin has also created her own group in her local area, the Illawarra Cancer Social Group, to connect in-person with others who have cancer.
"It's a place for anyone with any cancer diagnosis to connect, meet up for coffee or walks, vent, cry and laugh," Erin says.
"This group has been very therapeutic for me and I've been fortunate to share Mummy's Wish and Rare Cancers Australia with our members, recommending the bears and books to parents."
Erin's advice for other mums with cancer
- Ask for help: We teach our kids to speak up for what they need, but mums often forget, or perhaps feel too proud to do the same
- Rest without guilt: Rest, TV time or anything else you need to help you get through the day won't harm your children's development. There are ways to turn these moments into learning opportunities while you recuperate
- Use your library: Libraries and librarians are golden and extremely underrated. These spaces are calm, free and welcoming. Most have a great children's area, sometimes with activities or playgroups. Kids love having their own library card and bag too!
- Find joy in your everyday: Cancer is a marathon, not a sprint, so find joy in even the most ordinary moments with your kids. Most treasured memories are usually in the interactions with one another, not the event or destination.
