In a week in which the news seems to focus locally on the reasons for lives lost and internationally on the mocking of some of someone who has passed on, the value of life seems permanently at the core of our minds.
I don’t know how many of you saw last weekend the bravery of young cancer sufferer 16-year-old Donal Walsh from Cork who went on live TV to tell us all that he expected to be dead within weeks. Donal made the news last week by comparing his fight for life with the rash decisions made by many to end their own. He said that while he acknowledges the depth of mental illness, he finds it hard to comprehend how people can consider ending their own lives when he does not have the luxury of extra life. Last October he was told he would not make Christmas. In January, he was told he would not make Easter. I feel no shame in saying I shed tears in watching the heartbreak of his father in the audience as he spoke of the great pride he had in his son. You could tell that this man would gladly swap his place in life just to give his brave son a chance to enjoy his. To make the mistakes, to find love, to find fulfilment, to take wonderment in the things around you Young Donal unfortunately will not have a chance to do this. He spoke of seeing the evenings getting longer, knowing that when they shorten again, more than likely he will not be here. And somewhat unselfishly he told of the pain it causes him to know that his passing will bring pain to his family. Yes, life is precious, we should fight for it, we should value it, we should respect the living as well as the dead. And we should do all we can to help those who are unable to see the light in these challenging times.
On page 48 of this week’s paper, you should read the story of a young Galway woman who when faced with losing her life to the side effects of the treatment that saved her life, decided to take the matter into her own hands and made her way by boat across the world to attend a doctor she found on the Internet and who has oiven her great hope that she can once again live a normal life.
Mary Philbin from Clonbur was diagnosed with cancer eight years ago, but managed to beat it through perseverence and radiation treatment — the side effects of which are threatening her prospects. Unable to fly because of her illness, Mary’s fight for life saw her travel to the US by boat, with little money but with lots of hope.
However, the cost of living in the US is daunting for the young woman and for this reason FOX News featured her story last week and has started a fund to raise the $50,000 she needs to pay her expenses while she receives treatment in North Carolina. At the end of the article, I provide a link to her story, a video of her journey, and to a donation site set up to raise the money for Mary over the next 20 days. Please donate whatever you can.
