A Heartfelt Cry For Help
The wife of AFL star Jeremy Finlayson, Kellie Finlayson, has given her followers a devastating window into her "isolating" three-year long battle with terminal cancer. Kellie, 28, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2021, with the disease then spreading to her lungs. While doctors recently found her cancer had stabilized, a devastating turn of events unfolded in July when she shared that it was active again. The mother-of-one was told to undergo chemotherapy treatment to slow the spread.
In a tearful post on Instagram on Tuesday, Finlayson said her journey to restore her health and enter remission is emotional and she feels like a “prisoner”.
“For those wondering if I ever cry…yes…I do,” she wrote beside a selfie. “Not often and usually due to the collateral that comes with a terminal diagnosis. But yes, I am human, some days do get the best of me and I’m a prisoner to my own thoughts.”
Finlayson said her life was far from what she imaged as a teenager, adding she keeps most of it “behind the scenes” and away from the media.
“While I share a lot, it’s probably just 5 per cent of my whole life on here,” she said. “There is so much happening behind the scenes, I take 10 steps forward one day and 12 steps back the next. I’m positive and grateful to be alive, but some days remind me that this is so far from the life I’d created in my mind as a teenager.”
She said “sh** sucks sometimes” and her cancer battle “feels isolating”.
“I too feel alone, but I know I’m not. And neither are you.”
Facing the Harsh Realities
Finlayson’s heartbreaking update comes after she revealed the socialite couple had listed their “forever home” in Hendon, Adelaide. She told The Adelaide Advertiser the newlyweds sought a larger property to store “equipment and machinery” needed to complete her cancer treatment.
In January, Finlayson ditched natural therapies and alternative medicine and faced the possibility of having to resume chemotherapy as treatment in June.
“Unfortunately, with cancer, especially relapsed cancer, it grows really fast so once we see not even quite a millimetre of growth in a scan over a couple of months, we know that means it's growing and that means we have to act on it,' she said in a TikTok video. “So normally I walk out of a meeting with my oncologist and he tells me we're happy to watch and wait. Not the case today. I am off to see a surgeon next week and a radiotherapist. Just to get all of my options before potentially starting chemotherapy again.”
Navigating Through Motherhood and Treatment
Kellie said her treatments had worked to slow the spread of her cancer but '100 per cent' robbed her of her first year of motherhood with Sophia, and now she faces the prospect of never having more children. The couple's daughter, Sophia, was born in August 2021, just a few months before Kellie received her cancer diagnosis. Finlayson has spoken about how her cancer journey has impacted her ability to experience motherhood fully.
A Family United in the Face of Adversity
Footy star Jeremy Finlayson is now sporting a touching tattoo of his daughter just days after his cancer-stricken wife Kellie shared some heartbreaking news about her battle with the killer disease. The Port Adelaide key forward, 28, shared a series of images via an Instagram story in a touching tribute to his daughter Sophia Jai. Her name now features permanently on his right knee - as well as her date of birth - August 19, 2021. The eye-catching design features a silhouette of Finlayson throwing his daughter up in the air, with the larger part of the tattoo showing her holding onto his little finger with her hand. This touching tribute serves as a reminder of the strength and love that binds them together, especially during these difficult times.
The Impact on a Football Career
Meanwhile, Finlayson said the turmoil of the last few years has taken its toll and impacted his footy career. He was ruled out for the season in July after scans confirmed a laceration to his spleen. This injury adds another layer of complexity to Finlayson's life, highlighting the difficult balancing act between his athletic pursuits and his wife's health battle.
Standing Tall Through the Storm
Despite the challenges, Kellie Finlayson maintains a spirit of resilience and positivity. Her story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. She is a beacon of hope for those facing similar challenges, offering a raw and honest glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster of battling a terminal illness. Her message resonates with those who have experienced the isolating and overwhelming nature of such a journey. Kellie's journey is one of strength, courage, and a relentless fight for life, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, hope and love can prevail.
