Kia ora
We were deeply saddened to learn that Joy Wilkie died this week.
Diagnosed in 2015, Joy has been a trustee of Myeloma New Zealand since 2016 – and she has been a quietly compelling and fierce advocate for myeloma patients and the treatments they deserve.
It was Joy who stepped up and provided a patient perspective at the launch in August 2019 of a landmark research report – Burden of Multiple Myeloma: A study of the Human and Economic Costs of Myeloma in New Zealand. She spoke with her enormous heart of her own situation and her hopes for her future and that of other New Zealanders with myeloma. This was a very public appearance from a person who never wanted glory or recognition and always seemed happiest working hard in the background, speaking to media, writing to politicians and to newspapers, bringing the myeloma voice where it was needed.
And she did it again later that year when she represented New Zealand myeloma patients at the Health Select Committee in support of Myeloma New Zealand’s petition that Pharmac fund transformative treatments for myeloma patients.
Speaking at the Burden of Disease report launch to an assembly of politicians, clinicians, healthcare professionals, patients and carers, Joy described herself as an “everyday Kiwi”. She got that wrong – Joy Wilkie was anything but ‘everyday’. While managing her own illness, she advocated for others, seeking improved access to modern medicines for all myeloma patients.
Joy was a delight to work with – there was always a smile and a story – and she made a real commitment to working for the myeloma community in New Zealand.
Our thoughts are with her family – she always spoke of them with such pride and love. Joy will be sadly missed.
Ngā mihi
Myeloma New Zealand
