Receiving cancer treatment close to home is making a devastating diagnosis a little easier for Cleveland newlyweds Brett Floyd and Naomi Cooper.
Brett, 43, was diagnosed with stage four cancer in April and now receives chemotherapy every fortnight at Redlands Satellite Health Centre.
“We didn’t really know that this place was here, but we're very thankful for it,” Brett said. “It’s just been easier for us, you know, battling with the diagnosis and the condition, to not have to go into the city every day. It’s fantastic.”
Amid the uncertainty of treatment, the couple has also been supported by family and their local community.
Just three months after Brett’s diagnosis, the couple married at Bayside Events Centre in Wynnum, with Naomi’s sister Skye helping organise their special day.
“My sister organised everything. It was amazing,” Naomi said.
Speaking about their journey she said it has been hard to plan.
“Every day has been different, and every day I wish things were different,” she said.
Brett said the generosity shown to the couple had been overwhelming.
“The Events Centre in Wynnum did everything for us at no cost,” he said.
“The way the community came together to support us was humbling.”
While treatment remains tough, Brett said his family and the relationships he had built with his local care team helped.
“It’s hard. I’m having my good weeks and my bad weeks,” he said.
For now, Brett and Naomi are taking things as they come, hoping treatment can eventually be spaced further apart to give them more time together as a family.
Brett also offered some practical advice for others facing unexpected health challenges.
“There’s some tough conversations to have, especially with the kids.
“Make sure your life insurance is up to date. That’s a big one.
“Super and those practical things,” he said.
“Also, I have always had healthy blood tests, so it was a big surprise for us.
“Make sure you go to your doctor and get anything checked out, this started as a back and stomach-ache that could have been easily dismissed,” he said.