Boost for mum in cancer fight
Almost $150,000 raised over week-end for vital treatment
A mother of three has received the best possible news in her courageous battle with cancer - almost $150,000 has been raised over the week-end which will allow her undergo vital treatment.
Michelle Beck (39) nee Walsh, from Carraroe, Sligo was diagnosed with aggressive advanced triple negative breast cancer shortly after her third child Thea, now 23 months, was born.
She has undergone chemo therapy but this is said to be taking its toll and no longer the best option to prolong her life.
Last Friday morning Michelle decided to set up a Go Fund page ‘Fight for Our Mummy’ with a target of $120,000 to fund expensive immunotherapy treatment over 12 months which costs $6,000 every three weeks, and has been left amazed by the generosity of people. Michelle met her future husband, Darren Beck from Sydney whilst working in Dublin after graduating from college and they moved to Sydney seven years ago where they married and had three children, two boys Callum (6) and Rylan (4) and Thea.
A 39-year-old mother of three can undergo expensive but vital cancer treatment thanks to the generosity of the public.
Michelle Beck, nee Walsh, who is living in Australia with her husband and three children is originally from Carraroe, Sligo and last Friday morning set up a Go Fund Me Page to pay the cost of immunotherapy treatment aimed at prolonging her life.
Her sister, Claire Lynch told The Sligo Champion that the family were overwhelmed with the response.
“Michelle is delighted. It’s such a morale booster for her,” said Claire.
Her sister was last home in December 2013 but is due to make another visit soon as she comes to the end of her current chemotherapy treatment.
Michelle, a research scientist, met her future husband, Darren Beck from Sydney whilst working in Dublin after graduating from college.
They made the decision to move to Sydney seven years ago where they married and had three children, two boys Callum (6) and Rylan (4) and Thea now 23 months. Whilst pregnant with Thea Michelle noticed a lump in her breast. Despite getting checked out, pregnancy masked the symptoms and the real truth of what lurked beneath was not made known until the day of Thea’s birth when Michelle was diagnosed with aggressive advanced triple nega-tive breast cancer.
She has had two mas- tectomys each one year apart to remove both breast tissue and nodes, as well as several other procedures and has undertaken three rounds of chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy.
Claire says however that her sister’s chemotherapy treatment is now taking its toll and is no longer the best option to prolong her life.
“Michelle continues with chemotherapy today but her body has taken just about enough,” says Claire.
Immunotherapy treatment is seen as the best option but costs $6,000 every three weeks and she will need at least a year of treatment.
The Go Fund Me Page had a target of $12,000 but this was surpassed quickly and now stands at over $148,000.
The donations have mainly come from Australia, the United States and Ireland. Claire added: “Michelle is an inspiration to all that meet her.
“She has been through all this while loving and nurturing a new born baby and her two young boys.
“Everyone that knows Michelle would agree she is the happiest most positive person you could meet.”