Photos by emcallaghanphotography.
At just 27 years old, Ellie Robertson faced something most could never have imagined.
Diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma bladder cancer (a cancer so rare, it was thought to be contained only to the bladder) at age 24 following a routine pregnancy check, Ellie’s entire future changed.
Formerly passed off as recurring urinary tract infections (UTI’s), it wasn’t until the expectant mum-to-be had her 12-week ultrasound that doctors discovered the 2cm mass on her bladder. During her second trimester, Ellie underwent surgery to remove the cancerous mass, and was successful in welcoming her beautiful new daughter, Ivy, to the world. Just six weeks later, she underwent another surgery to partially remove her bladder.
Following the operation, Ellie continued to undergo regular monitoring, undertaking laparoscopies and scans to ensure she was in the clear.
For the moment, the young mum was living her best life alongside husband Paul and their daughter Ivy.
However, less than one year later, Ellie’s CT scan showed an abnormality. Further scans confirmed the cancer had not only recurred, but had spread to her peritoneum and bowel, turning the former mass into a stage 4 cancer.
The cancer, linked to the urachus (a structure that forms between the bladder and umbilical cord during fetal development), was a devastating blow to Ellie, who had only just gotten back to normal.
No chemotherapy was established for this form of cancer.
For the following eight months, Ellie travelled across the state for specialist appointments and treatments, leaning heavily on support from local CanAssist Branches in Young and Harden.
By mid-2023, Ellie travelled to Sydney to undergo a 15-hour surgery where non-essential organs and sections of her bowel were removed, and a heated chemotherapy wash was performed.
Just before her 27th birthday, Ellie’s condition rapidly changed as the cancer returned once more. At this stage, her bowel was completely blocked and her organs had fused themselves together.
No more options were left and Ellie returned home under palliative care, passing away aged 27 on April 12.
Two years have passed since the Harden and Young communities lost their bright star, and Ellie’s sister Leanne Schulz has stepped up to fulfil Ellie’s wishes of giving back to the community who fought so hard for her.
“It was always Ellie’s wish to support the community who gave so much to her,” says Leanne.
“She always used to say that it was her goal to give back to the community as soon as she was well enough. Everyone was so generous.
“This is and has always been Ellie’s dream, I am just putting it into practice and am fulfilling it on Ellie’s behalf.”
During the month of August, Leanne will be walking and jogging 270 kilometres to raise money for CanAssist Harden-Murrumburrah and CanAssist Young.
“It’s been two years since Ellie passed and I was always thinking about what she said, but I was too deep in grief and mourning,” she says.
“But I was sitting there and realised that it was time to do something to honour Ellie and her wishes.”
Both CanAssist branches approached Leanne about becoming their Ambassador for their ‘Can Do The Distance’ campaign, of which Leanne set the goal of 270 kilometres (10 kilometres for every year of Ellie’s incredible life). All funds raised will go back towards the branches.
According to Leanne, Ellie always spoke about the invaluable support that allowed her to take her daughter and mum with her for each hospital visit.
“Ellie’s greatest joy was becoming a mum,” says Leanne.
“This challenge not only is in honour of her… but to the future she should have had with her little girl.”
Leanne is now looking to the community again to join her in her challenge by taking up their own personal one.
“You don’t have to do 270 kilometres with me,” she says.
“You can do 50 kilometres or ride your bike alongside for a bit. Anything helps.”
Anyone is welcome to join the challenge as Team Ellie for either Harden-Murrumburrah or Young, and Leanne says donations and sponsorships are both welcomed and encouraged for either branch.
“I just want to bring Ellie’s dream to fruition by giving back to the community to assist anyone else who may be going through the same things she did,” she says.
“The work that CanAssist does for rural communities is so important.”
For more information about Leanne’s walk, visit her Facebook page at Can Do the Distance for Ellie.
To donate to Harden-Murrumburrah’s Team Ellie challenge,
visit https://can-assist.grassrootz.com/can-do-the-distance/harden-murrumburrah
To donate to Young’s Team Ellie challenge, visit
https://can-assist.grassrootz.com/can-do-the-distance/young-boorowa
Every little bit counts.
Elizabeth Kovacs
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