WHEN Mount Gambier mother Melena Roughana shines a white lantern at Adelaide’s Light the Night tonight, it will signify a celebration of her survival with her family and a chance to reflect on the support received through the many challenges faced this year.
Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in March, Ms Roughana had no idea where her cancer journey would take her.
Neither did she know where she would stay when forced to relocate to Adelaide for life-saving treatment.
One of the thousands of people helped by the Leukaemia Foundation each year, Ms Roughana and her family were able to call the Bridgestone Australia Leukaemia Foundation Village in Adelaide home.
“When first diagnosed in Adelaide, I never expected that I would need to stay indefinitely and to have the support and comfort of the village impacted our situation for the better,” she said.
“Our family lived five hours away from Adelaide – accommodation was the biggest concern, how could I fight for my life if I didn’t know where we would live or where my children would live?”
That is where the Leukaemia Foundation stepped in, finding the family a home while Ms Roughana underwent the fight for her life.
“I was able to have my children with me, these things gave me great comfort in a time when I was completely lost,” she said.
“I couldn’t believe there was such an amazing facility available to me and my family at the saddest and most confusing time in my life.
“The staff were so kind – they felt like angels – giving me a home away from home for however long I would need it, and I was able to have my children and a carer with me.
“The village was a huge weight off my shoulders and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.”
Ms Roughana is now in complete remission and will proudly be the White Lantern Ambassador at Light the Night Adelaide.
Her niece Ellyana Sims recently wrote and released a song titled “Lena’s Song” and will perform live at the event.
Now in its tenth year, the Leukaemia Foundation’s Light the Night is a unique event bringing Australia’s blood cancer community together with friends and family in more than 140 locations to remember and reflect during a moving ceremony and short lantern walk.
Leukaemia Foundation state general manger Simon Matthias said every one who raises money and carries a lantern at Light the Night will help light the way for leukaemia patients.
“Every day another 35 Australians are told they have blood cancer, immediately plunging them and their families into a world of gruelling medical treatments, fear and uncertainty,” he said.
“They may not realise it but in this darkest moment they are not alone.
“Together we will be there to provide every Australian with the support and services they need to beat their blood cancer.”
Flagship events in major cities, including Adelaide and Mount Gambier, will take place tonight.
The Mount Gambier event will run from 5.30pm to 9pm in the Cave Gardens.
Attendees will hold gold lanterns to remember loved ones lost to blood cancer and white lanterns if they have been diagnosed themselves.
Blue lanterns are proudly raised by friends, family, workmates and the wider community.
