My KIA LIFE Soulful HEART

My KIA LIFE Soulful HEART This is my day to day life as a (not dying from it

Sometimes it’s more sleep than anyone could possibly imagine… and then once a week, courtesy of the steroids ( ), it’s B...
14/08/2026

Sometimes it’s more sleep than anyone could possibly imagine… and then once a week, courtesy of the steroids ( ), it’s BUZZING for 24 hours with absolutely NO SLEEP. 😂

Sorry MOTH…..
I shopped overnight again. 🛍️
I wrote a journal. ✍️
Chatted with overseas peeps. 🌏
And planned my next FIVE meals. 🍽️😂

Meanwhile, Spotti has the right idea… four paws on Mum, eyes shut, no responsibilities whatsoever. 🐾❤️

(in remission), what a joy!! 😂🤦‍♀️
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I never wanted a female dog. Not because I don’t love puppies but because I couldn’t bear the thought of taking away he...
04/08/2026

I never wanted a female dog. Not because I don’t love puppies but because I couldn’t bear the thought of taking away her chance to become a mum. Maybe that came from my own story.

After years of IVF, miscarriages and heartbreak, I knew how deeply the desire to be a mother could be. Every baby born to someone else felt like another little miracle and I couldn’t imagine taking away that choice for another living creature.

Life, however, has a funny way of teaching us.

I learned that not every female is meant to become a mother by giving birth. Motherhood comes in many forms. Mine arrived through two beautiful adoptions and looking back, I wouldn’t change the path that led me here.

Which brings me to our accidental tourist, Spotti.

After her , I saw just what an incredible little mum she would’ve been. The way she cared for her squeaky turtle absolutely melted me. She loved with her whole heart... maybe a little too much. Her mental health was so affected in many situations with this fake baby. ❤️

So yesterday we had her desexed. I’ll admit, I apologised to her more than once. (She was probably more interested about where meal had disappeared to.). But I know it was the right decision.

There are already far too many unwanted dogs waiting in shelters for someone to love them. Spotti can now focus on living her best life, spoiling her little green squeaky turtle and keep us thoroughly entertained.

Please desex your pets. It’s one of the kindest things you can do for them and for the many animals still waiting for a forever home. 🐾
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01/08/2026

What an incredible show by Tony & Gaga, aka my beautiful friends, Dom Bagnato & Sarah C.

Opulent? Absolutely but jaw-dropping was more like it. Standing ovations, a captivated audience and a ballroom full of people singing along to the timeless classics of the .

With Dom & Sara’s incredible performances backed by a 20-piece orchestra and the jazz-inspired arrangements the show had everyone excited with the wardrobe changes, tapping their feet to the sounds and soaking up every moment.

More Melbourne shows are coming, so check out their profiles or just ask me... I’m proudly their number one ticket holder. (Well... probably number three after their partners! 😂)

🎭 Bravo to everyone involved. What a night!

Professional photos by Mark Goss (another talented artist!)❤️

28/07/2026

Our State is destroyed and when it hits close to home such as your long life friends, then we have to stand up and say no more! Whilst our new temporary government has called a Royal Commission for corruption in the building industry let’s hope they target more funding to our police services including opened police stations! Did you know some have part time opening hours? Some stations are closed down sharing across three suburbs? And don’t get me started on the low numbers affecting our current police force!!

We can’t seem to do anything about it but raise our voices. In the meantime, please help my friend (Maz) and her family rebuild.

Go Fundme link: https://gofund.me/2f5c6eb7b or in my bio.

It’s been a bit of a different winter this year.No travelling somewhere warm. No European holiday. No ski trip & thankfu...
18/07/2026

It’s been a bit of a different winter this year.

No travelling somewhere warm. No European holiday. No ski trip & thankfully, no Hotel Epy… so far. 🙏

Unlike last year, which was hospital stay after hospital stay, ICU, emergencies & weeks spent indoors recovering from whatever virus or bacteria happened to float past. If there was a cold or respiratory bug doing the rounds, I was almost guaranteed to catch it. Just part of the cancer & immune-compromised package deal.🦠

This winter, after three hospital stints already (different reasons… infections but who’s keeping score?), the strategy has been stacks of Vitamin C, zinc &… hibernation.

I have to admit, I feel the best I have in a long time. It might have something to do with those epic bear-like winter sleeps too.

I’ve gone back to studying (chemo brain & all), focusing on my dogs, daily walks, renovating the house and keeping social outings to a minimum. Even the humble yoga has taken a break because crowded indoor spaces are a risk factor. 🧘🏻‍♀️

It all sounds pretty cosy, doesn’t it? In some ways it is. But if I’m being honest, it’s also having an impact on my mental health.

Living cautiously can become isolating. The more I stay home to protect myself, the more home becomes my safe place and the scarier the outside world feels. My brain seems permanently confused as this social queen is being challenged.

Grateful, yet grieving.
Content, yet lonely.
Surviving but not always feeling like I’m truly living.

A few days ago I made a quick dash to the hospital to collect my meds. One of my doctors saw me crossing the road without a coat on one of Melbourne’s freezing days.

“Maria,” he laughed, “what on earth are you doing out here? You’re immune compromised!”

I assured him it was a quick stop before heading straight home.

It was a funny moment but also a reminder of just how much my life is now measured by risk.

Anyway. Tonight is a cheeky cocktail, a cookbook & another quiet winter’s night at home.

For now, this winter is less about adventures and more about healing. Maybe that’s okay. Spring will come soon.♥️
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Just another day at Hotel Epy - thankfully just a day stay! 💙All my bloods are looking great. My Myeloma is still in rem...
09/07/2026

Just another day at Hotel Epy - thankfully just a day stay! 💙

All my bloods are looking great. My Myeloma is still in remission and I’m feeling the best I have in a long time.

However, (there’s always a butt 😛) sleeping 12 hours a day plus a snooze, isn’t exactly normal! So we’re stopping one of my anti-inflammatory medications (which also acts as a nervous system relaxant) to see how my pain goes, fatigue settles and whether my continues to behave itself.

Some really encouraging news for my fellow Myeloma warriors too. 💙 and Mezigdomide are expected to move from clinical trial into mainstream treatment, making them available to many more people living with Myeloma.

I feel incredibly grateful that this combination was available to me as a clinical trial for my fourth line of treatment over the past seven years. My hope is that this cocktail can help others reach remission too, buying precious time while even newer treatments continue to emerge.

Maybe CAR-T cell therapy will be my next chapter one day. 🙏

CancerTrials Remission

After careful research and extensive experimentation… (read: sleeping 😏), I’ve reached a scientific conclusion.In order ...
04/07/2026

After careful research and extensive experimentation… (read: sleeping 😏), I’ve reached a scientific conclusion.

In order to function like a half normal human being with a clear mind, decent energy, less pain and feeling slightly less like a robot before their battery change, I seem to need at least 12 hours of sleep.

Twelve.

Hours.

Is that completely nuts?

I’m post-menopausal. I’m in remission. I also take a cocktail of medications so I know there are plenty of factors at play… but twelve hours still feels excessive.

Please tell me I’m not the only one.

Anyone else this high maintenance, running on a 12-hour sleep subscription?

Life is indeed like a box of chocolates. After my cancer diagnosis, life became a Pandora’s box of memories.People often...
25/06/2026

Life is indeed like a box of chocolates.

After my cancer diagnosis, life became a Pandora’s box of memories.

People often say that when faced with mortality, your life flashes before your eyes. In my case, it wasn’t a flash at all.

It was more like peeling back the petals of a rose one by one. Each petal revealed something precious.

Family gatherings.

School days.

Friendships.

Hobbies.

Holidays.

Moments I hadn’t thought about in years suddenly resurfaced.

A scent.

A perfume.

An item of clothing.

A movie.

A book.

“I remember that.”

The hugs.

The kisses.

The laughter.

The conversations.

The ordinary moments that with hindsight were anything but ordinary.

Even objects took on new meaning. Things I’d tucked away for years suddenly felt precious.

MOTH called it hoarding.

I called it nostalgia.

Then a friend shared some wisdom that has stayed with me ever since:

“You can’t create new memories with things. Keep the memories but let someone else create new memories with the item.”

It was exactly what I needed to hear.

Sometimes moving forward means making room for what comes next without letting go of what came before.

So these days I try to live in the moment creating new memories while cherishing the old ones.

Because nothing can replace the memories of the past.

But there is still room for new chapters to be written. ❤️

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