I want to live life to the full says ‘Mister Miracle’
ARMY VETERAN WITH CANCER TO DO 26-MILE CHARITY WALK
A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Army veteran described as Mr Miracle by his doctors says he is determined to “live life to the full” in the face of terminal cancer.
Father-of-four Ian O’keefe, who served in Bosnia, Kosovo and in the Gulf War, was diagnosed with grade four glioblastoma - an aggressive form of brain cancer - in 2008 after suffering severe headaches.
The 48-year-old had the tumour removed and underwent treatment but was given a life expectancy of no more than two years. Ten years on from that prognosis, he is continuing to fight.
Mr O’keefe, of Calverton, said: “I was getting really bad headaches in 2007 and they eventually got worse, it was like looking through water. I went to Specsavers and they found swelling and bleeding in the optical nerves.
“I had some tests done and (doctors found) it was a brain tumour. I had it taken out in March 2008 and it was grade four glioblastoma.
“When I found out I was really angry. I was so mad. I thought ‘I can’t do anything about it, I’ve got it so I just have to try and fight it.’ When I heard the life expectancy, I just said I would live life to the full as much as I could.”
Despite having the bulk of the tumour removed and additional treatment, Mr O’keefe’s condition is still described as terminal because it is not possible to remove all the cancer cells.
The veteran, who reached the rank of sergeant, admitted he is at a loss as to how he has lived for so long with his condition and said even one of his doctors described him as Mr Miracle.
After losing many friends he made during treatment to cancer, Mr O’keefe is now preparing to raise funds for two causes close to his heart.
Ian Lane, 47, of Calverton has been friends with Mr O’keefe for 33 years and recently got back in touch with each other. They will be taking on the charity marathon together.
He said: “Ian is a true inspiration to so many people. He lives every single day to the full. Now he has spent 10 years fighting an invisible foe.”
They will be tackling a midnight marathon walk with friends on November 9, starting and ending at St Wilfred’s Square in Calverton. Ian is raising money for Hayward House Hospice in Nottingham and Hannah’s Holiday Home.
■ You can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ian-okeefe