Imagine being heavily pregnant with your third child when, in the course of a routine check, something looks wrong.
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Within days you have a newborn and a cancer diagnosis.
That nightmare became a reality last month for Goulburn woman Jocelyn Raunjak.
She and her husband, Hume District police officer Constable Andrew Raunjak, have two older daughters, Michelle, 5, and Rebecca, 3.
On March 13, Jocelyn was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML), and was rushed to Canberra Hospital for immediate emergency surgery to give birth to a healthy baby girl, Samantha, on March 14, before she began chemotherapy.
But it wasn't long before her kidneys shut down and she required dialysis.
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Then, in the earlier hours of Sunday, March 29, Jocelyn had blood in her mouth caused by ulcers from the chemo treatments. In the following few days, she developed blurred and double vision, and declining communication.
On Thursday, April 2, she crashed and lost consciousness and became unresponsive.
Rushed to ICU, she was sedated and intubated. As a result of her treatment, Jocelyn is classified as neutropenic: so she has no immune system whatsoever.
At present Jocelyn has been transferred from ICU to the treatment ward. She has also been responsive to questions and recognises people.
Inspector Matthew Hinton, officer in charge of Goulburn Police Station, said that Hume police officers have been trying to support Andrew as best they can.
"It's been a very horrible time for him and his family," said Inspector Hinton.
"He's in a unit close to the hospital with three young children, including a newborn, to be near his wife. It's been a really hard road for them - two steps forward, one step back."
Their family in blue have been attempting to look after them, but with the COVUD-19 restrictions, friends and colleagues have felt frustrated by the limits they must work within.
The Hume PD and Mission Australia have both supplied care packages for the older girls, including craft supplies, and Andrew has been given a a power pack for his phone so he is always able to stay in touch.
So NSW Police Legacy has created a fundraising page to raise support for the family.
"Anything you can give will help lessen the financial stress they will face in the months to come," said supporters.
"I'm sure the generous spirit of our blue family will extend past what we have already gifted."
- You can find the fundraising page at https://raunjakfamilyappeal.gofundraise.com.au/cms/home
