Twin triumphs
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday August 15, 2009
TWENTY-THREE-year-old Lurnea twins Jade and Rachel Stefek were diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last year, less than six months apart.€śI was an apprentice chef at the time,€ť Jade says. €śMy sister got diagnosed and so I took time off to support her. Then I was diagnosed pretty much straight after.€ťJade says although her initial reaction to the diagnosis was shock, she soon realised she needed to be mentally strong."I thought, 'I have to beat this; it's just another hurdle to get over,' €ť she recalls.Rachel echoes her sister's sentiments: €śI made a decision that I was not going to let the treatment or the cancer beat me.€ťBoth sisters received chemotherapy. Through months of nausea, the twins were each other's greatest support.€śWe were just always there for each other,€ť Jade says. €śWhenever we had issues or when the situation was getting too big, we talked about it.€ťBoth Jade and Rachel are now in remission and looking to positive futures. €śI would love to finish my apprenticeship; I've still got two years to go. And I also want to go travelling,€ť Jade says.The twins are thankful for the support of the Leukaemia Foundation and Liverpool Hospital. The foundation offered financial aid and extracurricular activities like make-up courses, which Jade says made her and her sister feel better about themselves.
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald