Aussie mum, 33, dies months after doctors revealed her 'bad stomach ache' was actually cancer: 'We were hoping for a miracle'
- Olivia Renga was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January
- On June 27, the 33-year-old unfortunately lost her battle
- Read more: Mum's shock as tiny spot on her forehead turns out to be cancer
An Australian mother-of-three who was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in mid-January has tragically died at the age of 33.
Olivia Renga passed away on June 27, leaving behind young daughters Neve, Wilkie and Elliot and her high school sweetheart Josh.
Olivia has been remembered as a 'beautiful soul' and 'a true angel taken far too soon'.
Her body was riddled with neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma and was deemed 'rare and aggressive' because it's typically found in the lungs, not the liver.
The couple from Ballarat were 'hoping for a miracle' while Olivia had chemotherapy treatment but unfortunately the worst occurred, leaving Josh a single father.
Josh told FEMAIL he's shattered over the loss of his beloved wife.
The couple started seeing each other when they were 16, tied the knot in 2016 and had their first daughter, Neve, four years ago.
'We are devastated and are just navigating things best we can,' he said.
Olivia Renga (pictured with her husband Josh and their three daughters) was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in mid-January and died less than six months later
Prior to being diagnosed, Olivia experienced nausea and abdominal discomfort in late November last year which at first was 'nothing of concern'.
But on Christmas Eve she crumpled in sudden and extreme pain and was bedridden for the rest of the day.
Since it was the festive period, no clinics or pharmacies were open so Olivia had to push through the agony for a couple of days before finally seeing a GP.
There were no signs of anything sinister in test results, and her symptoms weren't considered serious because she didn't have any family history of liver cancer.
Olivia sought a second opinion from another GP who 'wasn't confident' about sending her home despite seeing the test results.
'We had a family holiday to Queensland booked for the following week - it was going to be our first big trip together as a little family - but Olivia was sent to emergency to get tested property,' Josh recalled.
Olivia sought a second opinion from another GP who 'wasn't confident' about sending her home despite seeing the test results
Doctors then conducted a biopsy for further testing.
Olivia spent a week in hospital, the family holiday was cancelled and the pair still didn't have any results for another week.
Josh, who runs his own business, recalled Olivia visiting him at work to share the dreaded news after she had visited the doctor.
'It all happened so quickly over the space of a month. We both cried and were distraught,' he said.
'Neither of us thought it was going to be this. It was all such a shock. Then we went together to the oncologist appointment.'
Doctors found one main tumour and multiple smaller ones in Olivia's liver. Her specific cancer was 'difficult to stop' and chemotherapy only worked for a certain period of time.
She started chemotherapy immediately after she was diagnosed but a month ago it stopped working effectively so doctors moved on to a different drug with no success.
Doctors couldn't accurately predict the amount of time Olivia had left.
The couple met in high school and first got together when they were 16 then tied the knot in 2016
Josh also shared a heartfelt message he wants all Australians to know. 'Life is fragile, so don't waste it. It can be really cruel sometimes but you need to push through an look on the bright side,' he said.
The family spent as much time together as they could at home, but Olivia went to hospital as needed.
'Life is very different to how it was six months ago,' Josh previously said.
'I'm hoping for a miracle everyday. It burns me inside thinking about what our future might look like.
'Especially with our girls. They need their mum, they need her at their weddings, every Mother's Day... we just don't know what's going to happen and the unknown is really hard to deal with.'
Now sadly his worst fears have come true.
Josh also shared a heartfelt message he wants all Australians to know.
'Life is fragile, so don't waste it. It can be really cruel sometimes but you need to push through an look on the bright side,' he said.
The couple hoped sharing Olivia's story highlighted how life can change in an instant and no-one is immune to cancer.
'A positive mindset is the best tool you can have. It's the only thing you can control,' Josh added.
If you'd like to contribute to Olivia's GoFundMe, click here.
