Melbourne cancer mum's story leads to flood of donations

Australians have donated $90,000 in the past 24 hours to help a terminally-ill Melbourne mum fighting for more time with her premature baby.

Touching photos circulated yesterday showing Michelle Buchholtz, 38, in her hospital bed clutching her tiny girl, Ava Michelle Ansalone.

Ava was born last Friday by caesarean, three months premature, at the Royal Women’s Hospital due to concerns her mother would not be able to carry her full-term.

Ms Buchholtz's fiancé, Alex Ansalone, 37, started an online fundraising campaign to pay for her ongoing treatments — including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a possible trip to China for alternative treatment not available in Australia — in a bid to give Ms Buchholtz as much time as possible with their daughter.

The couple told the Herald Sun they were awe-struck by the public's generosity, with the current tally standing at $100,000, including more than 1400 donations, according to their fundraising page.

"I can't believe how much people who don't even know Michelle and I are willing to support us," Mr Ansalone said.

Before Ava, the couple was forced to terminate two pregnancies due to aggressive chemotherapy.

They used IVF to get pregnant again, in the belief Ms Buchholtz was cancer-free, then discovered in August the tumours had returned and spread to her bones.

Ms Buchholtz is currently preparing for another round of chemotherapy treatment for an aggressive form of breast cancer.

The cancer is terminal, doctors say. Her wish is to survive long enough to take her daughter home from hospital when Ava is well enough.