Michael’s Battle with Stage 4 Cancer

This is a difficult story to tell as it involves my brother, Michael, who is battling Stage 4 Testicular Cancer. But I tell it with his permission.

Michael, his wife Rose, and their three young children, Conor (10), Cliona and Declan (7) originally from Cork and Mayo, live in central Spain. Both self-employed, they teach English and also have a small business called Casa Oretani offering B&B accommodation.

Times however, are very difficult. It is made even more difficult that they have no family support there and while we are trying to help as much as we can from Ireland, it is not enough.

Michael first started experiencing pain in April 2022 and was initially treated for an infection. However, in December 2022, things escalated and in early January 2023, he was suddenly faced with a diagnosis of Stage 4 testicular cancer with secondary tumours on the lungs. Within a few short weeks, he had surgery and started chemotherapy for the next four months. During this time, he struggled to continue his English classes to make ends meet and thankfully had some understanding students.

In May, he completed chemotherapy and initially all was looking positive. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to last and his cancer markers started going up again.

He has now had to commence more intensive chemotherapy which includes a stem cell/bone marrow transplant. This all involves him travelling to Madrid and being in hospital away from his wife and children for three weeks each cycle, in isolation while he receives chemo and stem cell therapy.

Currently, he is immunocompromised and any infection could be fatal, and he will continue to be for some time after he is discharged after the last transplant.

And this is where we ask for help. Times in Spain are very hard for them. They had been looking at moving back home permanently when his cancer diagnosis landed on them. For the self-employed, qualifying for financial support in Spain is very difficult and he receives none. Now with cancer thrown in and unable to work, the financial stress is a huge worry and concern for them especially with three young children.

This is not an easy ask for them but any donation at all will help in alleviating the financial strain of covering medical travel and living expenses, especially their mortgage, while he shifts his entire focus to his cancer treatment and surviving.

Michael loves the sea and his second love (after his family!) is ‘Kittiwake’, his Drascombe Lugger sailboat. All Michael wants to do is get back to Ireland and live to be able to teach his children how to sail her.

Please consider supporting Michael and his family if you are able.

Gratefully yours,

His sister, Dorothy