She was 11, and her life was to change forever.

She'd been sick and skinny her whole life and doctors had never understood why, until one day they discovered Jade's entire colon was riddled with thousands of wart-like cells. 

The 'polyps' were caused by a crooked gene, and were starting to appear in her stomach too. 

The only option to live past the age of 18 - removing her colon and 10 centimetres of her small intestines. 

After the operation, Jade accepted a life full of regular medical procedures and checks.

She had a simple rule to cope - only be upset on the first day of bad news, and then it was back to practical, rational thinking.  

But what happened more than a decade later threw the rule out the window. 

"I was driving back from Daylesford one day and got really sick, really quickly," she said. 

"My teeth were aching, I had a fever and couldn't speak. 

"I thought I was just overwhelmed but after getting worse, not better, they realised I had glandular fever and gall stones."

Jade had her gallbladder removed, but even then her energy was at an all-time low, she was struggling to stay hydrated, experienced daily migraines and had upwards of 35 bathrooms trips per day.  

In December 2014, she was admitted to hospital for eight nights, and, after finding a new doctor and undergoing another operation, it was discovered several more abnormal polyps had appeared in her stomach and could not be removed.

"I never ever expected big news like this again - I thought all the big stuff was over," Jade said. 

"I was told the polyps were not cancerous but were well on their way and my GP said if my stomach wasn't removed, it would become highly risky."

In shock, Jade, now 27, went home and did what everyone told her not to - Googled the procedure.

"It was a big unknown and my family and I were all together, but reacting so differently. We were caught up in the emotion," she said.

"They always say don't go online, but I did, and I found out I couldn't have children after the operation." 

For Jade, a woman who felt destined to become a mother, this was the biggest blow of her life. 

"My husband and I have had mortgage since I was 19 years old to make sure we could buy a house with three spare bedrooms," she said. 

"All we want is to fill those bedrooms with kids."

So with the stomach operation inevitable, Jade started researching IVF procedures.

Jade's medical history disqualifies her from being able to adopt, so she became determined to freeze her eggs while she still could, and make sure her baby was screened for the FAP gene. 

But with IVF costing upwards of $18,000 and Jade without an income - the financial reality was grim. 

"I couldn't let money be the thing that stood in my way," she said.

"I just couldn't, so that's when my friend suggested we ask for help." 

Her best friend and sister set up a Go Fund Me account - hoping to raise money towards ongoing medical bills and the IVF procedure. 

In just five days, friends and family donated more than $7000.

Jade says it's been the Daylesford community that has helped raise most of the enormous sum.

"I've never let this stuff define me as a person, I never wanted to make a big deal of it and really, I was embarrassed at first when they put (the fundraising page) up," she said.

"Ever since, I've been having so many mini breakdowns knowing all these people from my home town care so much.

"It makes you feel like you really belong in town, and all this generosity wouldn't happen in the city."

Jade's sister Karly Holland said the whole process had been overwhelming for the entire family.

"Most people back home didn't even know how sick Jade has been - that's how much she just gets on with it," she said.

"She still walks around with a brave face and is happy.

"I guess now she knows how many people in Daylesford love her and we just want to say thanks for all this.

"It's been pretty humbling."

For Jade, there's just one goal in mind. 

"There's no point in getting bitter," she said.

"As long as I can have a baby, I can deal with pretty much anything in this life."

To donate, go to www.gofundme.com/t5n9sn2a3b