THE MOTHER of a young woman battling brain and spine cancer told how the freeze is putting additional pressure on cancer patients who have to travel for their treatment.
Louise Whitehead said her daughter Rachael, and Rachael’s partner Alan, endured “hazardous driving conditions and maniacs speeding” through freezing conditions from their home on the outskirts of Limerick to Bon Secours Hospital in Cork for Rachel’s treatment.
Rachel (31), a mother of one from Clonlara, received her cancer diagnosis from doctors just before Christmas after complaining of numbness in one of her legs, and is undergoing six weeks of intensive radiotherapy.
The mother of six year old Leo had just qualified as a midwife, but had not worked up enough tax credits to qualify for employment benefit, so her family has set up an online fundraising campaign to cover the cost of Rachel’s travel, accommodation, and ongoing medical and household bills.
Sharing her daughter’s cancer journey online, Louise Whitehead wrote: “Another week begins for our princess. Yesterday Alan and herself battled through the snow and slush to get back down to Cork. They will never forget it. Held up outside Charleville for three hours! Hazardous driving conditions and maniacs speeding.”
Ms Whitehead said her daughter and partner also passed a number of “cars turned upside down on the side of the road” on their eight-hour journey.
“They made it safely at 8.30pm after leaving home at 2.30pm. As if things aren’t worrying enough for her. But our warrior is heading into radiotherapy this morning full of determination.”
Ms Whitehead said her daughter was “bravest person I know”.
The young mother has undergone a number of surgeries in the past few weeks to remove tumours from her brain and spine.
“I really don’t know how Rachael is talking to us, she had the back surgery and she had the brain surgery, she is amazing, a walking absolutely fantastic rock of a miracle of a girl, she is absolutely brilliant,” her mother said.
Louise, who retired from nursing in Limerick after suffering a stroke five years ago, said her daughter may yet have to travel Germany to receive further treatment for the sarcoma cancer.
“There is no such thing as giving up at the first hurdle if radiotherapy doesn’t work, but we are going to stay confident that it is going to work and it is going to kill the sarcoma,” she added.
Donations can be made to the family’s online fundraiser, which has raised over €24,000 on gofundme.com/f/princess-rachael.
