New Zealand Bed and Breakfast, Mount_Tutu_Eco-Sanctuary-A_place_of

Hi - I'm Debbie, wife of Tim, mother of Rebecca, Jacinda and Louisa.

- AND, I'm a Breast Cancer Survivor of almost sixteen years and would love to share our paradise of tranquility and healing, Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary, with you!

In November 2001, at the age of 44 years, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, having 8 tumours, with spread into my chest wall and lymph node.

Our three daughters at the time were 13, 11 and 7. I had no history of Breast Cancer in my family, I had had a healthy lifestyle and had breastfed each of my children for more than one year each.

After surgeries and a couple of months after completing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Tim and I, with support from our 3 daughters, began a nationwide campaign to increase the Breast Screening age to 40 - 70 years (it was then 50 - 64 yrs). As a family, we delivered our Petition of 125,000 signatures to the New Zealand Parliament. As a result of this huge Petition, the Government in February 2004 announced the expansion of the Breast Screening age to 45 - 69 years!

For more see:

What a wonderful place - yes perfect place to recover after undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

During my time of treatment and recovery, I began writing songs of my experiences. I released a CD with 7 of my songs about Breast Cancer. I have continued to write songs (words and music) and have written several songs for my daughters, Rebecca, Jacinda and Louisa who sung as "The Short Sistars".

For more see:

(Tim and I are so proud of them!)

One of my songs is about Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary, our home, high up in the hills above Tauranga, New Zealand. This peaceful place, a true paradise, reinvigorated me in my time of recovery. I believe we all need "time-out" to saturate ourselves in nature and peaceful surroundings.

Mount Tutu Sanctuary

.................If you could only see, the beauty that surrounds you

In this paradise, of Mount Tutu Sanctuary

The Towering trees that enfold our safe haven

Standing as they have for many a century!

It's our amazing place

The views from this mountain

With so much space

Peace reigning here in

Peaceful mountain air,

Mount Tutu Sanctuary!

Wild sheep grazing, pastures so green

Fresh spring water, as pure as can be.

Birds singing in harmony with nature