Cancer shock Celt superfan stranded in Las Vegas may never come home
Docs make horrific discovery after Ellen collapses at Hoops convention
A SCOTS mum may die in the US after she fell ill at the Celtic Convention in Las Vegas and was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Ellen Cassidy, 54, had travelled from Springburn, Glasgow, for a 10-day holiday with pals to attend the event. Six days into her trip, the superfan began suffering from pain near her kidneys and extreme fatigue. She was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Centre in Nevada last Thursday. A scan found cancer in Ellen’s gallbladder and she was taken away for emergency surgery to remove the organ.
But when doctors operated, they found the cancer had already spread to her lungs, kidneys and liver.
Her son Kevin Martin, 32, is now battling the clock to get to his mum’s hospital bedside after receiving a call from doctors who warned Ellen’s cancer is advanced. He has been told his mum may never come home and is likely to receive end-of-life care in the US because her cancer is so aggressive. Kevin said: “My mum had said she was feeling really tired and a bit unwell so she had been taking painkillers on holiday. Before flying out she was in good health and really looking forward to the trip. She’s Celtic daft.
“She phoned to say she was going to hospital so I knew she really wasn’t feeling well. When she called, she could hardly speak she was so breathless.
“Then she told me she was going for surgery – it was a total shock. “I just said to her, ‘We’ll get you better and get you back home.’”
But after doctors told Kevin his mum did not have long to live, the 32-year-old decided he would travel to see her.
The doctor said cancer was in her liver, lungs and kidneys KEVIN MARTIN ON MUM ELLEN’S ILLNESS
Medical staff have urged him to travel as soon as possible due to her deteriorating condition.
Kevin added: “My mum was too weak to phone me after her surgery.
“The doctor said during the operation they found the cancer in her liver, lungs and kidneys and it is spreading rapidly.
“They told me I had to fly to Vegas now to see her.
“I had to get an emergency passport yesterday for my flight.”
Kevin is due to fly to Las Vegas tomorrow morning but the flight has cost £1600 and he now faces wracking up debt from a hotel stay.
Kevin’s aunt has started an online fundraising page in the hope of being able to raise cash for his accommodation.