Most people assume that surviving cancer is the finish line. For Brittany Kremers, it was only the start of a lifelong battle. Behind closed doors, away from the world’s gaze, she’s been quietly enduring a kind of suffering that stretches far beyond physical pain.
She’s not just coping with the scars of the past—she’s stuck in limbo, waiting for a promise of healing that keeps slipping through her fingers.
At just eight years old, Brittany was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. After a year of grueling chemotherapy and radiation, doctors declared her cancer-free in October 2007.
Video: ‘Do the right thing’: Call to ACC as cancer survivor stuck in painful medical limbo
But just six months later, it returned—stronger and more invasive. When specialists said there was nothing more they could do except manage her pain, her mother, Dawn, refused to give up.
She found a consultant willing to try what others wouldn’t. That decision would save Brittany’s life, but not without a cost.
To remove the tumor, surgeons had to take a part of Brittany’s skull base and her entire lower jaw. They replaced it with a flap of muscle from her stomach. What followed were years of complex surgeries, constant pain, and slow recovery. Over time, she lost hearing and vision on her right side.
At one point, she wore a bulky external distraction device attached to her face—a metal frame she had to tighten herself with a screwdriver to shift bone fragments toward the center of her face. Painful? Absolutely. But she was told it would all be worth it once she received a prosthetic jaw.
In December 2021, Brittany finally believed that day had arrived. She met with her health board, thinking she’d be given a surgery date. Instead, they told her there were no funds.
The disappointment was crushing. But her story reached the public thanks to a news article, and soon donations flooded in. More than $280,000 was raised from compassionate strangers across New Zealand.
But then came another hurdle.
Despite having enough money for her prosthetic surgery, Brittany was told the funds wouldn’t cover the long-term aftercare she’d need. She was advised to apply to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to help fund ongoing treatments.
Video: Cancer survivor stuck in painful medical limbo
So in May 2022, she filed a treatment injury claim with ACC.
Nine months later, her claim was denied.
The reason? ACC determined her condition was a direct result of her cancer, not the treatment itself. That technical distinction meant she didn’t qualify for compensation under current policy.
The rejection shattered her optimism. Her mother, Dawn, couldn’t hide her frustration: “She’s so unmotivated. It’s heartbreaking to watch.” The setback also meant that Brittany couldn’t proceed with surgery—doctors won’t start something that may never be completed.
Even worse, the metal distraction she once wore? Useless now. Without the prosthetic, the bone structures have shifted back, undoing months of pain and effort.
The emotional toll has become impossible to ignore. Brittany is not only physically worn down but mentally exhausted. The recent death of her grandmother—her biggest cheerleader—hit her especially hard. “It’s like a piece of her spirit faded away,” Dawn said.
She now spends most of her days secluded in her apartment, unable to eat properly and reliant on a 60-milliliter syringe just to drink water. Protein shakes have replaced meals, but they bring no comfort, only necessity.
This isn’t life. It’s survival—barely.
Although new medical evidence has been submitted to ACC, no clear timeline exists for when a final decision will be made. In the meantime, Brittany waits. The surgery that could restore part of her face, her function, and her confidence is still on hold.
The mental weight of uncertainty grows heavier with each passing week. Her family lives in constant limbo, torn between gratitude for the support they’ve received and anger at a system that continues to stall progress.
Back in Greymouth, Dawn keeps a watchful eye on her daughter, grateful she’s nearby again after time apart. But her hands are tied. Without approval from ACC, there’s little she can do.
“To be let down over and over again… it’s infuriating,” she says. “Her mental health is suffering badly. All we can do is wait.”
Brittany Kremers is not asking for special treatment—just a fair shot at the life she fought so hard to keep. After years of pain, resilience, and waiting, all she wants is the opportunity to reclaim her smile and rebuild her confidence.
But time keeps slipping by, and with it, her hope.
In a world that values quick fixes and easy answers, Brittany’s story reminds us that healing doesn’t always come on schedule—and sometimes, the greatest struggle isn’t against illness, but against the system meant to help.