Susanna Freymark
Seven years ago, I wrote about Alison Battistuzzi’s fight for her life.
She desperately needed new lungs.
I met Alison, her husband Andrew and son Dominic (10 years old at that time) at their Yorklea home in 2017. Alison was frail, pale and her constant companion was an oxygen tank keeping her alive.
Alison got her double lung transplant. The cystic fibrosis that had halted her life was stopped in its tracks with her new lungs.
When I saw Alison years after her transplant, she was at a Coraki market selling spices and other condiments. At first, I walked by and didn’t recognise her because she was so unrecognisable – she was fit, her face had filled out and she looked vibrant as she stood at her table of wares. Andrew was nearby.
I bought some spice, gravy stock and a couple of bags she’d made out of chicken feed sacks.
It was heartwarming to witness her new lease on life.
Today, Alison is fighting for her life again – a lifetime of taking medication for cystic fibrosis has damaged her liver.
Alison is 52 years old.
“She has one drive in life – to see our son grow up,” Andrew said.
On a fundraising campaign set up for Alison, Andrew has given a sombre update.
“Ally has entered what they call end of life stages – which is just that.
“Alison has been fighting for her whole life, fighting for every breath.
“She has fluid on her liver, which is causing her a lot of problems, the fluid has now become infected. Doctors will try to drain what they can to help with the pain and keep her comfortable.”
Alison is at home with palliative care nurses keeping her as comfortable as possible.
“Unfortunately draining the fluid is only a short term solution,” Andrew said.
“Every day we have her with us is precious.”
The fundraiser has a modest goal of $4000 to help with the costs of caring for Alison. Anything you can give helps in this terrible situation for the Battistuzzi family.
Alison will be known to many as a regular market stallholder at the Casino Farmers Market.
and then