A pair of Ayrshire twin sisters are desperate to be reunited after three years and thousands of miles apart in the wake of a devastating cancer diagnosis.
Victoria Wallace, from Girvan, was given the shock news on February 3 that she has cervical cancer.
Her twin sister Arlene Blane, who lives in Adelaide, Australia, has set up a fundraising page in a bid to raise funds for flights over to Scotland to be by her sister’s side.
Mum-of-three Victoria, who works as a postie, started experiencing irregular periods alongside back pain, sciatica and hip pain and booked in for a smear test.
She said: “I thought I was doing too much at the gym and with my job, because I walk nearly 12 miles everyday and I’m carrying heavy parcels and mail.
“The doctor said ‘unfortunately we have found cancer’, and after that my world was just falling round about it.
“It’s just been horrendous. I can’t explain the emotion, the fear, the anger, feeling scared, all wrapped into one.
“I’m only 37 - you don’t ever think you’re going to get told you’ve got cancer.
“I was thinking all these dark thoughts; ‘is the cancer everywhere? Am I going to die? Are my kids not going to have a mum?’
“I was picturing my funeral and my weans standing at my coffin.
“It was a big relief to hear it hadn’t spread; yes I still had the cancer but at least I knew it was contained.
“As yet I don’t know what stage it is but they think the best treatment for me is a radical hysterectomy.
“A hysterectomy is massive, but thankfully I’ve had my kids. I have been blessed to have three girls.”
Twin sister Arlene, who has lived in Australia for 11 years, has launched a fundraiser to cover flight costs for herself, husband David and their six-year-old daughter Leona in a desperate bid to be by Victoria’s side when she goes through treatment.
The pair haven’t seen each other since early 2020, when Arlene was visiting in Scotland and had to make a mad dash to the airport to get flights home before the borders in Australia closed due to the pandemic.
Arlene, who works two jobs as dental nurse, said: “I feel guilty that I’m here and not there to support her.
“We’re very close as a family. With Victoria being my twin sister, I can’t explain it but twins have that unique bond.
“Now being the other side of the world and something happens you think ‘oh my god, I need to go home’, but you can’t because the flights are ridiculously priced.
“The cost of living, interest rates and the cost of flights - everything is just so expensive.
“I’m working full time, my husband’s working full-time and taking on extra jobs to put money in the bank.
“I’m hoping that whenever she gets told the hysterectomy will get done that I can be there when she goes through the surgery and the aftermath.
“It’s a huge operation. It’s a massive thing to go through.”
The Girvan community have rallied round to contribute to the fundraiser, as well as businesses launching bingo nights and raffles to raise as much money for Arlene and family to get over to Scotland.
Victoria added: “I get really overwhelmed by it all that people want to do nice things for me.
“Anything that anybody can give is lovely but even if all that comes of this is raising awareness for girls- if they think anything is wrong, push to get a smear test done.”
•Help Arlene on her quest to Scotland by donating here. Support and advice is available at Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.
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