Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Teenage cancer
A story of courage, strength and success.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if your options were suddenly halved? If you no longer had the opportunity to decide where your future was going, and how you were going to get there?
For many students in higher education, decision making usually involves trivial issues, such as social gatherings and personal attainment; until maybe final year, when reality kicks in and the ‘real’ world demands their attention. However, the freedom to be in control of one’s own life is a privilege that should not be underestimated, as anyone unfortunate enough to have experienced a serious illness will know.
One woman who is sadly familiar with this is 20 year old Roscommon native Kerry-Ann McLaughlin, former cancer sufferer and current full-time student. Kerry-Ann was first diagnosed with follicular thyroid cancer at the tender age of 16, one week before her Junior Cert. With a past history of illness as a child and a suspected teenage goitre, Kerry-Ann was well used to hospitals, but up until then she had never experienced the level of neglect shown to her by medical professionals. Surgery, initially estimated at 45 minutes, had to be broken down into two six hour sessions. This, together with a prolonged course of treatment, made Kerry-Ann seek her own private medical advice.
“I had to wait 10 months and at that I had to source my treatment myself due to neglect by the hospital”, explains an angered Kerry-Ann, who ultimately spent over a year recovering, resulting in her temporary withdrawal from secondary school.
Her drive to beat the cancer came when Kerry-Ann realised that she wanted more from life than constant sickness. With the aid of her family and boyfriend, she found the strength to fight the disease and to claw back her future. She says “I was focused on getting better and getting back to school”. She finished her final exams in secondary school and then went on to higher education, studying Occupational Safety and Health in Sligo IT.
Kerry-Ann is clearly a person of unique strength, showing no sign of defeat when confronted with a life threatening illness, at an age where disease and death seem so unnatural. It’s not only admirable for Kerry-Ann to continue with her education, but it is also inspiring. After all, many students fail to find the inner strength needed to succeed in higher education at all, let alone succeed when faced with the torment of cancer.
“Going through what I have has made me a stronger person, made me determined to make something of my life”, says Kerry-Ann, showing the resolve and self-belief that will help her to accomplish her dreams.
Throughout her illness and recovery, Kerry-Ann was helped by Canteen Ireland. Canteen Ireland is a support group set up to help teenagers, and their loved ones, who are suffering with/have suffered from cancer. Canteen Ireland helped both Kerry-Ann and her family get through their ordeal.
Many of us worry about the societal pressures that surround us, letting minor incidents escalate into major dramas. Most of us are oblivious to the suffering of others. However, some of us do not have the freedom of choice that others possess, and sadly a few of us never will.
It’s certainly something to think about the next time it feels like the end of the world because you can’t find anything to wear
By: Caroline O’ Driscoll
