12 February 1969 - 22 November 2025

What do you say about Leisa?

If you knew her, you'll probably be smiling already... because she really was larger than life.

Leisa's journey with CIDP started with something many of us would brush off - just being tired. Life was busy. She had a demanding role as a training manager, a full schedule, and still made time for friends, for life... and yes, for a bit of shopping too.

Then in July 2016, everything changed. She was diagnosed with CIDP and came home in a wheelchair. Suddenly there were more questions than answers. Even "Doctor Google" couldn't help much. She spent 9 long months in hospital, much of that time over 400kms away from the people she loved. It was isolating, overwhelming, and like anyone in that position, she asked, "Why me?"

But if there's one thing about Leisa - she didn't let it define her. Because at her core, Leisa was a teacher. That was her passion - helping people understand things, breaking things down, making the complicated simple. And she carried that in to everything she did.

And honestly... was there anything she couldn't do?

She built a website from scratch with no prior experience. She created booklets, designed business cards, put together materials that looked like they'd come from a professional agency. All of it driven by that classic Leisa attitude - "we can do it ourselves". And she did.

She pushed through the paperwork to get our charity up and running, and within months we were officially recognised. She tackled governance documents like it was nothing. She built the foundations we're still standing on today. That was Leisa.

She was also someone who told it exactly how it was. No sugar-coating. If you ruffled her feathers, you'd know about it pretty quickly. But if you were in her circle, you knew she had your back. She'd be right there beside you - encouraging you, backing you, and yes, sometimes telling you what you needed to hear, not just what you wanted to hear.

She was strong. She was loyal. And she had a great sense of humour, even through everything she faced.

Earlier in 2025, Leisa told us her time might be limited after being diagnosed with blood cancer. And in true Leisa fashion, she didn't shy away from it - she got organised. She made sure everything was in place. She wanted things ready. But sadly things didn't quite go to her plan.

And now... we're left missing her. And we will, deeply. But we also carry what she built, what she started and what she believed in.

In her honour, we're establishing a research grant to support funding a cure - that will part of her legacy.

Leisa, you may not be here with us, but I think we all know - you're still there in the background, keeping an eye on things, probably still steering the ship in your own way. We'l keep going. We'll keep building. And we'll carry you with us in everything we do. We miss you terribly. But we take some comfort in knowing you're no longer suffering.

Until we meet again.. sleep peacefully, Leisa. And thank you for being part of our story.

Supporting Australians with GBS, CIDP, MMN and related conditions.

© GBS CIDP Support 2025. All rights reserved.

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242 Elsworth Street West,
Mount Pleasant VIC 3350
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GBS CIDP Support is a Registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient. All donations of $2 or more towards our cause are Tax Deductible.