RAIMARIE POINTON - A true story from a client

This article appeared in ING Life's client magazine called 'Clubroom' in March 2008

Raimarie Pointon became reacquainted with a band called the Eurythmics when people started to compare her “new look” to lead singer Annie Lennox. Unfortunately for Raimarie her “new look” was not by choice - it was the result of months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2006.

A cancer scare six years previously meant that Raimarie was vigilant about having regular mammograms. It was during one such check-up that an abnormality was detected. Raimarie underwent an immediate biopsy and by 10 o’clock that morning she was diagnosed with a high-grade carcinoma in-situ (cancer of the breast). Within 3 days of her diagnosis she underwent a partial mastectomy and one week later a full mastectomy. This was followed by six months of chemotherapy (and severe sickness) before she was able to return to work on a part-time basis in September 2007.

When Raimarie was diagnosed her first thoughts were of her family (she has a husband, two sons and a daughter) and her business. Being one of three partners in a large accounting firm in Tauranga, the responsibility she had to her business partners and her clients was forefront in her mind.

Fortunately Raimarie was well insured, to which she strongly credits her financial adviser Simon Beaton. A combination of Locum cover, Income Protection and Trauma cover provided by her Business Extra policy meant that the one thing Raimarie didn’t have to worry about were her finances. Furthermore her business partners were financially unaffected by her illness as she was able to employ a locum to step in while she was off work. Raimarie says that the night her locum was engaged she slept soundly for the first time since her diagnosis. Simon also took care of the majority of the claims process so she didn’t have the added stress of having to deal with the paperwork.

Being so focused on her clients Raimarie has always made sure that they are adequately insured. However her recent experience has made her an even stronger advocate of insurance, and she has generously shared her story with many people that she has come in contact with.

Raimarie was off work for most of 2007 and is now working full-time. She admits that her energy levels are not what they used to be, but overall she feels really good. In the meantime she has become accustomed to her short, spiky, white hair; although is quick to point out that she won’t be dressing in a similar fashion to her new look-a-like who is famous for her red bra and leathers! Raimarie maintains that she has always lived life to the full and will continue to do so in the future. We wish her the best of luck.