Carly Deverall was diagnosed with aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in July 2017. The young Warrnambool mother has been relying on teetotallers to help pay accommodation bills while she undergoes life-saving treatments. The 33-year-old spoke to REBECCA RIDDLE about the importance of the Dry July campaign to help keep her family together.
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At Carly Deverall’s front door is a sign reminding guests to use hand-sanitizer and remove their shoes before entering.
These are simple acts of hygiene that could save the young mum’s life.
Carly has lymphoma, or lymphatic system cancer.
It is the depletion of the body's disease-fighting network and affects the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow.
Carly’s battle against the disease began in July 2017, six weeks after giving birth to her second son.
When the 33-year-old found a lump in her stomach she had a feeling it was something sinister.
“Your body changes after you have babies but you don’t have a lump for no reason,” she said.
“I was also starting to get unwell and started to feel sick and I was falling asleep all the time, which was very unlike me.
“And the lump had gotten bigger.”
Carly’s GP was unconcerned.
“She initially thought it was gastritis and I thought it might be a hernia, but unfortunately neither was right.”
The active fitness-enthusiast insisted on an ultrasound.
“You know in yourself when something's wrong,” she said. “I wasn't going to leave her office that day so she sent me for an ultrasound.
“It showed I most likely had lymphoma.”
Carly’s first task was to call husband Beau and tell him the news.
I was so scared. You don't expect to hear the word cancer. All I could think about was my boys.
- Carly Deverall
It was one of the hardest phone calls she said she’s ever had to make.
“I was so scared,” she said. “You don't expect to hear the word cancer. All I could think about was my boys.
“My husband Beau was working away in Darwin at the time and having to tell him over the phone was so hard.
“He flew home straight away and as soon as I saw him I immediately felt safe again.”
The pair immediately made plans to start Carly’s treatment.
“When we met with my haematologist at the south-west cancer centre she went through absolutely everything and explained what the next three months would involve.
“After a week of scans, biopsies and tests I was diagnosed with aggressive Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and began chemo straight away.”
Carly began six rounds of chemotherapy the following day.
“The staff at the cancer centre were amazing they were so welcoming and made every chemo session so easy.
“The CT scan half-way through showed the chemo was working and the mass had reduced in size.
“We decided I would go to the Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre for intense chemotherapy.”
Treatment meant leaving her two precious boys - three-year-old Jack (Jacky) and 12-month-old Nate.
“I would have to go to Melbourne for the next few months as they don't do this type of treatment in Warrnambool,” she said.
“I was so scared about leaving my boys - we had never been apart before.”
The former nurse had to rely on family for support so she could focus on her health.
“I am very lucky to have the most wonderful supportive family and without even asking my brother Justin said he would look after the boys.
“I just needed to go and get better so he and his family moved into our house and looked after our boys while we were in Melbourne with the help of my mum and aunty.”
Unfortunately, the six-week hospital visit was unsuccessful.
“After two rounds of intense chemo and being so unwell there was no change in my cancer,” she said.
Even as she shares her story, three-year-old Jack strokes his mum’s arm in an intimate gesture of unconditional love.
Carly is running out of options.
“I was told my only options are radiotherapy, but this is a risk as the lymphoma is so close to my organs,” she said.
“Or the other option is clinical drug trials.
“Hearing this was the scariest thing as all I wanted to do was go home and tell my boys ‘mummy's all better I don't have to go away anymore’.”
Medical trials are now Carly’s only option.
“I decided to try a clinical drug trial and was referred to the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for an immunotherapy trial that had just become available,” she said.
“After three months of this treatment the scan showed no changes.”
Each follow-up visit to various medical facilities was costing the young family hundreds of dollars.
With no regular income and time away from her boys, Carly said constant hospital visits were becoming a strain on the family until they received a lifeline.
“A lady from the Leukaemia Foundation contacted me and said they’d like to help,” she said.
The charity organised a two-bedroom apartment in patient accommodation in North Melbourne for the family.
Carly said she was blown away by the generosity shown to her since her diagnosis.
“To have the financial strain and stress taken off us whilst dealing with cancer is something that we will always be grateful for,” she said.
“It's so hard to be away from my boys and to have a place to stay when I'm out of hospital with them is so special.
“Through the support of charities like Dry July and Leukaemia Foundation they have given us something that we would never be able to afford.”
Dry July is the Leukaemia Foundation’s annual fundraiser
The campaign has inspired more than 130,000 Aussies to go dry since its inception.
Raising $30 million for people affected by cancer, the crusade funds projects at more than 75 cancer organisations across Australia.
Dry July began in July 2008 when three mates decided to abstain from alcohol for the month of July to raise money for a family member affected by cancer.
They termed the sobriety ‘Dry July’ and asked family and friends to sponsor them.
Hoping to raise $3000 to buy a TV for their local hospital’s waiting room, the trio from Sydney and Melbourne ended up raising $250,000 for The Prince of Wales Hospital.
The campaign gained the attention of media personality Adam Spencer and has since become an annual crusade.
Funds raised from the month-long crusade are now used for accommodation, transport, entertainment, furnishings, resources and comfort items for cancer patients.
The organisation also promotes the health benefits of reducing a person’s alcohol intake.
A Dry July spokespman said the month-long campaign was a positive experience for all involved.
“Having a Dry July has great health benefits,” he said.
“Each year our participants report sleeping better, having more energy and productivity and of course, no hangovers.
“So you're not only helping others, you're helping yourself. It's a win-win.”
