Ballina News
Mikayla Memorial at Melanoma March
Mikayla Memorial at Melanoma March
By Samantha Elley
Twenty four-year-old Mikayla Green had everything to live for.
The Ballina resident and her partner, Ryan Clarke, who was studying to be a doctor, had made their lives in Canberra.
“She was loveable,” said grandmother, Pauline Dorey, “Amongst the grandkids, she was the glue as she kept all the kids together.”
Then in 2018, Mikayla noticed a mark on her head that didn’t seem to go away.
“The specialist said he wanted more detail, so she was booked to have an MRI,” said Pauline.
“He said it was a haematoma and to come back in 12 months.”
Mikayla & Ryan
In October 2019, it was found to be a stage four melanoma.
It was believed the haematoma had covered the growing tumour.
Mikayla was sent straight to Sydney where more tests were done and the cancer was found to be in her liver.
Treatment seemed to be working at first and the young couple moved to Armidale so Ryan could continue his studies.
During this time Ryan proposed to his beloved girlfriend and they planned a wedding in Byron Bay for April 16, 2022.
“By February 2022, just before the floods, it was the last time she came home,” said Pauline.
“I thought she looked really good but she ended up in Armidale hospital and was then sent to Sydney where she was told she only had 4-6 weeks to live.
“They flew her back to Ballina and she lasted not even a week.”
Mikayla passed away on April 8 and her funeral was held on her wedding day.
Mikayla
Pauline and her daughter, Sharyn Dorey, Mikayla’s mother, had dressed her in her wedding dress after she died.
The Dorey family are determined that no other family should suffer what they have been through, especially when something as simple as wearing a hat, putting on sunscreen or wearing long sleeves out in the sun, could save a life.
The Melanoma March is now in its third year and will be held on Sunday, March 9 starting from Missingham Park, near the amphitheatre.
People are to gather at 7.30am where speeches will be held at 8am and the walk will commence at 8.30am where the path will go across the bridge and out to the breakwall.
Ballina-on-Richmond Rotary will be holding a barbeque and there will also be a coffee van.
“It still is raw,’ said Pauline. “One of Mikayla’s wishes was that Ryan finished his medical studies, which he did.
“He is now known as Dr Ryan Clarke.”
To make a donation to the Melanoma Institute Australia or to find out more about the march, visit here.
For more local news, click here.
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