Sligo nurse’s shock cancer diagnosis six years after losing her husband to same disease

Many Irish families are sadly affected by cancer in one form or another.

But, one brave Grange mother of three is showing immense courage and character as she is the second member of her family to be diagnosed with the disease in six years, but has indomitable spirit.

Helen Kilfeather Kiernan lost her husband Brendan to cancer six years ago.

The help and care shown by the Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit made a deep impression on Helen and her family at a very stressful time.

But last year Helen was diagnosed with Stage Four lung cancer and has been receiving treatment from what she describes as the amazing oncology team in SUH and the Beacon Hospital in Dublin.

This has been a very traumatic time for Helen and her three children Sarah, Sean and Jack.

Helen told The Sligo Champion: “The help provided by SHOUT to us six years ago and again now has helped bring us light when we have felt as though we are facing the dark.

“It has given us hope regardless of all that we are facing.

“I am turning 50 next month and I would like to raise money for SHOUT to show my immense gratitude for all that they have done and all that they continue to do for families like mine.”

Reflecting on when her world was first turned upside down in 2012, she said: “In 2012, my husband Brendan was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he chose to go to Germany for the operation and it was followed up by radiation and chemotherapy treatment in the Galway Clinic.

“He dealt with the oncology in Sligo towards the end.

“And then he passed away in 2018. His cancer was well advanced when it was diagnosed.

“I had asked him to get his prostate checked and it came about when his blood was checked.”

“That was devastating. Brendan was very private but very determined and the children knew that something was going on, but we never use the word cancer with them until nearer the time.”

But, with Helen’s more recent diagnosis the children have been made fully aware of the situation since she got the news in July of last year.

She added: “SHOUT was great with their care for Brendan, and it was psychological as well as they took us on board as a family and wrapped us in great care.

“The respect they showed, the guidance, the empathy and the listening and they also gave us space as a family, and they tried to make it as normal as possible and Brendan passed away in the North West Hospice.”

Helen was admitted to SUH last July and her diagnosis was confirmed.,

“I was at work, I am a nurse, and I had a stabbing pain in my right side and my doctor prescribed me painkillers and sent me for an X-ray.

“He rang me a week later to say there was an infection and I had pneumonia, and I should be off work.

“I did not want to stay off work but when they took a second X ray, and I was told on July 4 that I had cancer on the lung and a few days later that it was on the brain.

“I started on chemotherapy which went right through to December and then they did the scans and when they looked at the brain, the emphasis was there and I was sent to Beacon House in Dublin.

“I had radiation there and I am now on a different type of chemo.

“But I am doing so well as I have only been hospitalised once which was last week.

“I can’t complain and there are people who can’t tolerate the chemo.

“I am blessed as I am stubborn,” she quipped.

Helen added that “every day is a blessing, and my chemo is a blessing as well and I am still here and there are plenty of people who are not here or haven’t been given that opportunity or had that opportunity and can no longer receive it.”

And she praised the great support of her family.

“They have been wonderful as they all live only a few fields away and they are always there for me.”

Helen’s children are very much into sport from Benbulben FC to Naomh Molaise Gaels. Her daughter Sarah Kiernan (20) plays for Sligo Rovers senior women’s side

“They are all into sports which is great and Sean (18) and Jack (12) who play soccer and GAA and they support Dublin because my late husband Brendan was from Dublin.

“I have a very active family and it is great to have them.

“Of course, you have good and bad days when you say oh God why me and why us?

“But nearly every family in Ireland is affected either directly or indirectly by the disease.

“My motto is live life, love life.”

Helen began fund raising for SHOUT when she did a shave or dye fundraiser when she turned 40.

“I have done a few charities and when I turned 50, I decided to do something for SHOUT to give something back.

“For the week that I was on the ward they were just brilliant, and I set up a Go Fund Me page and as of Monday it had reached €13,525 and I am asking for everyone to keep donating.

“It is amazing the generosity of people, and I can’t thank them enough and it is a genuine charity.

“SHOUT is a shining star in the night sky.”

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