Kim grew up in Melbourne’s west with her parents and sister, Rachelle. From an early age, she was social, joyful and full of life, forming lifelong friendships in primary school, excelling in her work from the age of 17, and embracing a love for sport, travel and family.
Kim played goalkeeper for the ladies George Cross soccer team, was an enthusiastic Carlton Football Club ‘Blue Boys’ supporter, and had a passion for food, cooking, baking and exploring new cuisines. Kim’s warmth and generosity shone through her 20 years of volunteering at The Royal Children’s Hospital and her readiness to lend a hand to anyone needing help.
Symptoms and diagnosis
In May 2022, Kim attended the emergency department with upper abdominal pain and vomiting. Tests and a scan revealed gallstones, and she was told surgery wasn’t immediately necessary. When symptoms returned in September, she had her gallbladder removed. Just a week after surgery, Kim became jaundiced. Blood tests showed high bilirubin levels, and doctors suspected more gallstones. During a procedure to insert a stent, they discovered an obstruction. A biopsy later confirmed pancreatic cancer.
We were devastated but tried not to show it in front of Kim; she was petrified. Still, she was determined to get through and survive regardless of the statistics.
- Rachelle
The importance of persistence
Kim’s journey shows how vague pancreatic cancer symptoms can be, and why persistence matters. Abdominal or back pain, jaundice, nausea, unexplained weight loss and digestive changes should always be investigated. If symptoms persist, ask for further tests and scans.
Never take any symptom for granted. Take yourself to the doctor if concerned, whether big or small.
- Rachelle
Treatment journey
In December 2022, Kim underwent the Whipple procedure returning home on Christmas Eve after small setbacks. In January 2023, she began nine months of chemotherapy - a process she took in her stride.
In October 2023, Kim developed back pain again and insisted on further scans. A CT scan came back clear, but an MRI later revealed a shadow. By December, further imaging confirmed the cancer had spread to her liver. There were no curative options.
Kim began a new round of chemotherapy and explored other treatments. For seven months, she felt well, telling family, “If I didn’t know I had cancer, I wouldn’t know I had cancer.” She even travelled overseas in mid-2024, but on returning home, her health declined rapidly.
Kim passed away on 4 August 2024. Even in her final weeks, she thought of others: “If this helps the next person, and they can learn something from what was happening to me, then my suffering was not in vain.”
Words from Kim’s family to others
“Be open to every possibility. Allow the person impacted by pancreatic cancer to make their own decisions. Support them in every way you can, and make the most of the time you have together.”
Carrying Kim’s legacy forward
Cynthia Gatt supported by Kim's family created 'A Touch of Purple' to honour her and raise funds for pancreatic cancer research through Pankind. Their hope is for a future where pancreatic cancer is treatable, survivable and curable.
Kim’s memory lives on, with her family, friends, loved ones and the many lives she touched, and in the movement for a fairer fight against pancreatic cancer.
Learn more and make a donation here A Touch of Purple 2025
