Dawn’s Story

“At age 44 I was diagnosed with stage 3b bowel cancer.
Without chemo my oncologist gave me 10% chance of survival. With chemo, a 30% chance.

I had no prior symptoms and no family history but following three days of debilitating pain and four hospital visits, a CT scan found my fist size tumour and I had 15 minutes notice of my emergency surgery to remove three feet of my colon and 32 lymph nodes. I woke with a colostomy bag and after a week in Rotorua hospital, I was air ambulanced back to Christchurch hospital for another week before I was released. Chemo started three weeks later.
In my journey through the challenges of bowel cancer, I’ve discovered a newfound appreciation for life’s precious moments. Three years ago, the diagnosis could have defined me, but instead, it ignited a fire within me to live life to its fullest. My wonderful surgeon, Dr Frank Frizzell and his team have backed me as a survivor from the start! He told me to go live the hell out of life. So I am.

As a chef, I’ve always found joy in creating culinary delights that bring people together. Despite the hurdles of my health journey, I continue to infuse passion and flavour, sharing my love for food and spreading positivity one meal at a time. My role as Head of Food Development for 20 cafes in the Coffee Culture franchise keeps me busy but basically, I’m paid to eat cake!

Beyond the kitchen, my heart finds solace and purpose in caring for animals at my 32-acre foster farm. Each day, I’m reminded of the healing power of compassion as I provide a loving sanctuary for rescued animals, advocating for their welfare and happiness.

During the six months of chemo where I became malnourished, I had good days and some not so good. On the good days I might have an hour or two of energy to sow some seeds in a small indoor plastic grow house. Even just going through my seed collection brought me joy and spurred me on to get through these trials and back on my plot. Back to the animals on my 32 acres and to my majestic tunnelhouse.

I couldn’t wait to once again grow most of what I ate and nourish my body, mind and soul.

I did seed swaps with strangers through the post. I would fold origami seed envelopes to pass the time. I read and educated myself on the parts of gardening that I wasn’t yet proficient at.

Being limited to not lifting over 5kg made being on my land impossible so I destocked the majority of my animals and had friends tend to the ones I kept. My support circle were incredible. Missing lambing and kidding season was tough, but I knew I’d be able to be back there, in my happy place, soon.

The chemo infusion I had every three weeks, followed by two weeks of taking 8 pills every 12 hours was gruelling. It gave me extreme cold sensitivity where breathing in cold air felt like shards of glass in my throat. Touching anything cold, even cutlery, would burn my skin. The soles of my feet burnt, blistered and peeled and my toe nails fell off. I didn’t go outside for the first ten days after a new cycle of chemo.
So even sowing seeds was tricky. But I did.
I believed in a glorious tomorrow where I would reap the benefits of those stolen minutes of productivity.

After chemotherapy was concluded I had a months rest before my bowel reconstruction surgery so I made the most of a week where I felt really good. I transplanted seedlings like my life depended on it. And it may well have.

My tunnelhouse has automatic watering so once my precious babies were in my raised beds, technology and Mother Nature took over while I rested and recuperated after another tough hospital stay. This time I was only allowed to lift 1.5kg for 8 weeks until my wounds with 77 staples healed.

But just as spring sprung, my energy improved, my body healed and my dark cloud lifted as I returned to my land full time and got stuck in. My tomato plants needed their laterals removed. Fence lines needed weed whacking. And more seeds to sow.

Prior to being sick I use to work 65 hour weeks in the city, a 45 minute drive away each direction. My time spent on my land was minimal and rushed.

My surgeon told me to get on and live the hell out of life. My priorities changed. I became part of my community. Actually part of many different communities. I sought out young people who needed support with colostomy bags and cancer diagnosis. I mentored gardeners and kids. I studied gut health like it was my new religion. I reaped the rewards of my soil toil. And fed my community. And I believed in tomorrow! I’m not just surviving. I’m thriving!

I feel pretty honoured to be featured in three different gardening publications – Nz gardener magazine, 2023 Gardening Dairy and the Grow More, Spend Less magazine.

I stay active and eat well. Especially concentrating on great gut health.

I bike and hike but my latest obsession is pickleball. (Like little tennis)

Recently, I had the honour of winning a bronze medal in the women’s doubles A grade pickleball tournament in Canterbury. A testament that you can be resilience and have determination to thrive despite adversity. Following on from that win, I’m playing in another tournament in Auckland at the moment . I never thought this would be possible just a couple of years ago as I battled through treatment and numerous surgeries and procedures.

Through my journey, I’ve come to realize that every challenge is an opportunity for growth and every setback is a chance to rise stronger. I am Dawn Ballagh, not just a survivor, but a living testament to the power of resilience, the beauty of life beyond adversity, and the limitless possibilities that await when we choose to embrace each moment with gratitude and courage.

You can do this.

Feel free to follow my journey on instagram @travellin_gourmet. ”