The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Moyvane cancer patient in plea to stay apart
A 40-year-old Moyvane man with a terminal cancer diagnosis is appealing to the Kerry public to maintain social distancing at all cost, for the sake of vulnerable people like him living deeper in the shadow of COVID-19 than the rest of us.
John McGrath appealed this week to the public following scenes of large gatherings in places like Banna.
He is also, meanwhile, leading an incredible campaign for the Palliative Care unit at UHK via Facebook and GoFundMe.
It was to have revolved around a charity match and head shave organisers since had to postpone, but the fundraising continues apace, with over €15,000 now generated in just a few weeks.
John’s remarkably courageous spirit in the face of his diagnosis has had no little role to play in the success.
“I first noticed I had difficulty swallowing back in November, and I was then diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in December,” John told The Kerryman.
“But I got the news it had spread back in January in a terminal diagnosis.
There’s no point in shrugging away from it, and we are certainly not giving up hope and are fighting it every step of the way.”
He was given a prognosis of between six to 18 months, but found himself in the care of Dr Patricia Sheahan and team at the Palliative Care unit of UHK shortly afterwards.
“They put a stint in on January 29 to help my swallow, but I didn’t realise how sick the whole thing had made me until I underwent the first round of chemo a week later.
“It just flattened me, I couldn’t even keep a sip of water down after it, and that’s when I went into the unit. I always thought ‘palliative care’ meant end of life, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Dr Patricia asked me what I wanted from it when I was admitted, and I said ‘an injection up the arse and to get sent home’ but she broke it to me it would take a little longer than that,” John recalled.
He spent ten days inside in all and said the care he received was second to none, in a seriously impressive facility: “We are so lucky to have the unit here in Kerry, and I felt I wanted to do something to give back, and that’s when we organised the match and head-shave.” It was John’s Lenamore Rover buddies Stephen Donegan and Denis Kennelly who took care of all the organising.
Meanwhile, he said he couldn’t have made it through the recent months without the love and support of his family – mom, Carmel; sister, Clare; brothers, Micheál, Ciaran and Donal; and his long-term partner Erin Stack, and her family.
“They have been just brilliant. The diagnosis initially was just devastating, but do you know I never lost sleep over it, funnily enough. I do my worrying during the day.
“I have been warned by the consultant now to self isolate and not take any risks at all with COVID. My lungs and heart are good, but the chemo does lower the immune system a lot. It is a worry when you see the scenes we had at the weekend, it must have been reckless in Banna for the gardaí to have closed it down. I would just ask people to please stay apart now for the love of God,” John said.
To donate to the Palliative Care fundraiser log onto GoFundMe.com or check out the Lenamore Rovers Facebook page for more.