Nicole Perko was in a desperate situation. She had been diagnosed with stomach cancer, and although an operation could save her life it looked like the mother of five was going to die anyway.
Why? Because of an arbitrary limit on the number of stomach cancer operations an Australian specialist could perform. It was essentially a bureaucratic death sentence.
“The waiting list was the most emotionally gruelling time of my life. No one should have to go through that. The unknown was very scary,” recalls Nicole.
Nicole was caught up in a nightmare. Other patients who were also on the waiting list for stomach cancer operations had been left hanging for so long that their cancers had progressed and become inoperable.
It looked like Nicole, who was 45 at the time, would suffer the same fate and become another statistic in NSW’s failing hospital system.
But then a stranger stepped in and took matters into his own hands.
Sam McCauley was so moved by Nicole’s story that he created a Change.org petition asking the health minister to take action save Nicole’s life.
The petition which was shared on social media by prominent celebrities including Russel Crowe and the late Charlotte Dawson, was signed by a staggering 79,225 people.
“I was very humbled when the petition took off,” says Nicole.
To Nicole’s immense relief, the petition worked. The backlog of patients was cleared and she got her lifesaving operation.
“I cannot thank change.org enough for providing their platform. Sam Maccauley was an 18 year old who I was a stranger to. He helped to take the pressure and anguish away from me and all the other patients on the waiting list,” she says.
Now, three years later the Change.org petition has scored another victory.
Earlier this week NSW health announced that two new stomach cancer centers will be created. This means that the number of patients that can receive cancer operations will increase from 115 this year to 170 by 2026.
“It is great news. I hope it gives everyone requiring stomach cancer surgery the chance to receive it within clinically recommended times,” says Nicole.
“I hope that one day we have a nationally funded center so all Australians no matter what their postcode can receive the surgery they need.”
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