A terminally ill single mother who has had to sell her Deer Park house to pay for cancer treatment has had her property vandalised just days before the sale was due to settle.
Jenny Wu was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer just eight days before Christmas.
The 42-year-old has been struggling to pay her mortgage and $8000 per month for life-prolonging medication that is not subsidised by the federal government.
Late last year the mother of two young boys put her house on the market and moved in with her parents in Cairnlea.
Her house in Huddersfield Road, Deer Park was due to settle on Friday. But when her real estate agent took the purchaser through for a final inspection on Thursday, they discovered the property had been extensively damaged.
Ahsan Qureshi, principal director of the agent handling the sale, Professionals Caroline Springs, said the place had been “completely trashed”.
“They made a number of holes in the wall and in the floor so they could rip out the copper piping, they also took appliances from the kitchen,” he said.
The thieves smashed through the back door to gain entry into the house.
Mr Qureshi estimated the damage bill to be about $25,000.
Ms Wu’s close friend Jeff O’Donnell said Ms Wu’s insurance policy will cover some of the damage, but she’s been told it could take up to 10 weeks to process her claim.
In the meantime, she will have to keep up with mortgage repayments.
“It’s a horrible kick in the guts,” Mr O’Donnell said. “The sale is in limbo at the moment. The problem is, if the sale is delayed for two months, she won’t be able to afford her medication.”
Caroline Springs based organisation WESTFAD , of which Mr O’Donnell is a member, has started a fundraising campaign to help pay for the medication.
So far 15 donors have raised almost $1200.
To donate, go online to Rare Cancers Australia’s website: treat.rarecancers.org.au/campaign/2046/helping-jenny-wu
