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Donate to Auto Immune Research - In memory of Helen Louise McGinnity

By John McGinnity

Garvan brings together world-leading scientists and clinicians, collaborating locally and globally, to advance our understanding of disease, particularly cancer, autoimmunity and genetic disorders.  We are a global leader in fundamental biomedical research and its translation. Our mission is to make discoveries that will improve health for all.  Learn more about Garvan's research here. 

Helen's Auto Immune memory

Our beloved Helen passed away on the 21st of June 2023 after a long fight with a rare mix of blood clotting disorder and auto-immune disease. Sadly auto-immune conditions are still widely unknown & complex to treat, taking the life of Helen too early, and the lives of many others.

She will be remembered for the courage, generosity, kindness & compassion she showed those around her. More than one person will feel the warmth of her socks and quilts to which she poured her heart and soul into.

Even in her last days, Helen was thinking of others, working on a quilt for loved ones whilst in hospital. We ran errands still getting fabric for her to finish the one last gifts she was working on. She did this all whilst in incredible pain.

She was always keen to understand her illness. Her doctors were constantly amazed at her knowledge, her depth of reading and understanding of current research. Her ability to converse in medical terms in regards to her conditions, therapy and various options was always a welcome trait to her doctors. She never stopped searching for answers and there are many more questions without answers when it comes to auto-immune conditions.

Dr Samuel Kim, a wonderful loverly professor of medicine, once told Helen that "We are in the blank pages of the manual.  You are not in the text books". He worked tirelessly in the last years of Helen's life, and for that we are forever grateful. This page is created both in memory Helen, and for the fight that practitioners such as Dr Kim still continue.

Helen wants to fill in the unknown pages that so many still suffer from without understanding of what the cause is.  She doesn't want other women or men to suffer as she suffered. 
Your contribution to research into Sjogren's disease and associated autoimmune disorders will one day lead to a cure.

We feel extremely blessed to have been part of Helen’s life. She will be sorely missed.

She lived a life of art and beauty.

With all our love the McGinnity family. ❤️

Please Support My Cause

Raised

$4,959

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Thank you to my Sponsors

$105.50

Jewell Bobardt

Dearest John, sending you love and prayers of comfort. Helen was such a special and beautiful woman. All who knew her loved her too. With love, Jewell and Karsten.

$75

Grace Duckham

$150

Konrad Litfin

$50

Anonymous

$105.50

Gavin & Nikki

Our Best Wishes to you and your family mate.

$26.38

Anonymous

$200

Gladstone Area Water Board

Our thoughts are with you and the family during this difficult time.

$42.20

Kate Disher-quill

$105.50

Dale Mcnab

$200

Anonymous

$104

Lorena Paglia

$104.50

Sophie

Sending lots of love and holding a special spot in my heart for Aunty Helen.

$105.50

Valerie Maas

Helen will be missed. She was a special human being.

$520

Simon Mcneight

A beautiful daughter to Peter, wonderful sister to Cath and an amazing aunty to Shane and Simon. Much loved person by all including Bonnie, Liam and Phil.

$104

Arthur & Helen Dunn

Thanks Helen for being our friend and the good time we had with John and yourself.

$105.50

Arvind Singh

Best Wishes to you and your family John

$100

Grace And Gwen Willox

Sending all our love during this incredible tough time.

$26.38

Ian Ladbrook

$216

Anonymous

Vale Helen McGinnity. Forever in our hearts. Til we meet again in our Father’s house. ❤️

$500

Suzanne & Adrian

❤

$105.50

Gabrielle Perversi

$211

Susan And Digby Cullen

$52.75

Graham And Anne Marie Mcginnity

$105.50

Grace Duckham

My best wishes to you and your family, John. Grace.

$52

Tammy Walz

Thoughts are with you John and Family

$52.75

Terry Clarke

$52.75

Ross Leask

$52.75

Chris And Anne Elliott

$105.50

Greg Clarke

$104

Anonymous

Thank you for loving us.

$104

Joshua Mcginnity

The absolute best mother you could ask for

$1.01k

John Mcginnity