A Canberra single mother caring for her five-year-old daughter with cancer is now battling with a bank to ensure she does not lose the dream home she is building for her family.
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Lizzie Christiansen has asked RAMS, owned by Westpac, for some leniency, in paying the remainder of a deposit on the new home under construction at Denman Prospect.
![Lizzie Christiansen on the site of her new home at Denman Prospect with daughters Freyja (front) and Brynn and Inge. The family may lose the home as Ms Christiansen cares for Freyja, who has a rare form of cancer. Photo: Supplied Lizzie Christiansen on the site of her new home at Denman Prospect with daughters Freyja (front) and Brynn and Inge. The family may lose the home as Ms Christiansen cares for Freyja, who has a rare form of cancer. Photo: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/3b66b5b3-6e06-413d-ade3-bbc7ff851ad8/r0_0_688_918_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A RAMS spokeswoman said it would not discuss details of the case due to privacy concerns but confirmed the case was under review by the bank.
The builder has issued a stop-work order on construction of the house due to non-payment of the deposit.
![Freyja Christiansen offered a pinky promise to reassure her mum she would be a brave girl for the tests for her cancer. Photo: Supplied Freyja Christiansen offered a pinky promise to reassure her mum she would be a brave girl for the tests for her cancer. Photo: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/b75f20fc-235f-4270-9c59-51414f49c775/r0_0_720_960_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
As per a contract, the building company cannot continue until it receives payment, the bank expected to release funds once its receives Ms Christiansen's outstanding amount.
Ms Christiansen says she is maintaining her mortgage payments but still owes almost $34,000 on a RAMS construction loan for a house and land package in Denman Prospect.
But things have radically changed for the Gungahlin mum whose youngest daughter, five-year-old Freyja, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and started treatment last month at the Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick.
"I have the money in my bank account but I don't want to empty my bank account because I don't know what Freyja's needs are going to be," Ms Christiansen said.
"I've asked, 'Rather than pay the full $34,000, can I pay half?'. Or, 'Can I pay it at the end of the build?'.
"The local office of RAMS has been very understanding and helpful but they have just got a flat 'no' from head office."
Ms Christiansen is staying at Ronald McDonald House in Randwick with her two older daughters while Freyja undergoes treatment. They rent a house in Gungahlin.
The home in Denman Prospect was planned long before Freyja became ill.
Mrs Christiansen said the house was only small but it meant the world to herself and her girls to have their own home.
"The builders have really been wonderful and even let the girls design their own little touches in the house," she said.
A gofundme campaign for Freyja had, by last week raised more than $27,000 towards covering expenses for the little girl including follow-up therapies and also loss of income for Ms Christiansen who has not been able to work full-time as usual.
Ms Christiansen said she did not want to access that money for the construction loan as it was meant to be to ensure the survival of Freyja.
"That money is for her and the girls. I want that money to be there if the hospital says she needs more cycles of treatment and for whatever reason stop funding them or I wake up one morning and they tell me I have to put her on a plane to America for treatment and I need to pay for that. It's to keep her alive," she said.