For National Carers Week, we share the powerful story of Gary Young, one of ONJCRI’s valued supporters, whose four-year journey as a carer taught him about resilience and why cancer research matters.
Life was good for Gary and Linda. Together with their two sons, Tom and Joel, they were planning for retirement. Then came the diagnosis that changed everything.
Linda was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, at age 53.
“The diagnosis turned our happy, relaxed world upside down,” Gary recalls.
Gary became Linda’s primary carer. “There is no gentle easing into the role, you hit the ground running,” he explains. “It was a rapid learning curve about treatments, drugs and their side effects.”
As a carer, Gary found himself far outside his comfort zone, learning to provide personal care and administer pain management injections. He balanced work with countless medical appointments, eventually taking long-service leave as Linda’s illness progressed.
The emotional toll was immense. “As a carer, it is very hard to watch,” Gary says simply.
When the pressure became too much, Gary found his own ways to process. “I would jump on a motorbike, ride through the windy road, good music playing through the earphones. Let the pressure relief vessels (eyes) release, then hit the reset button and jump back into carer mode.”
Throughout their journey, Gary and Linda were surrounded by support: family and friends who stepped up, dedicated doctors and nurses, and therapies like music and art that provided moments of respite. Linda’s sister Terry became her immunotherapy donor. “An amazing lady,” Gary notes.
Linda received immunotherapy treatment just as it emerged from the trial phase. Today, that same treatment is mainstream for blood cancers and is being explored for other medical conditions. This transformation is exactly why Gary believes in the power of research.
“Research is a critical ongoing area, as it gives hope,” he says.
For carers watching their loved ones with cancer, hope isn’t abstract. It’s the promise that tomorrow’s treatments will be better than today’s.
Looking back on his experience, Gary describes himself as lucky. He had “a great patient, two good boys, great support from family and friends, and a sister-in-law who was a transplant donor.”
His advice to other carers is both practical and profound: “Embrace all the support you can. People often get more out of giving than the person receiving. Let people help. On a personal level, look after yourself physically and mentally. Find a passion to get your head out of the ugliness: music, running, surfing, whatever floats your boat.”
Despite the heartbreak and challenges, Gary sees his time as Linda’s carer as transformative. “I would like to think I have grown on a personal level and learned a lot about myself,” he reflects.
Ultimately, he returns to the sentiment that defines his entire experience: “It was an honour and privilege to be a carer.”
On National Carers Week, we honour patients like Linda and the carers like Gary who walk alongside them. Their courage inspires the research that gives hope to families facing cancer today.
Gary’s story reminds us that behind every breakthrough, from the lab to the clinic, are the patients, carers, and families whose experiences shape better care. At ONJCRI, we believe research is stronger when guided by the people it’s meant to help.
If cancer has touched your life as a patient, survivor, carer, or loved one, your voice matters. Learn more about our patient advocacy program here.