Fiona's Journey: A Rainbow Baby & her fight against Cancer

This is our sister Fiona. At the time of her 12-week pregnancy scan, Fiona had been experiencing double vision and put this down to an unusual pregnancy symptom. However, what followed was a series of medical investigations including multiple hospital stays, much medical imaging and a very complicated biopsy procedure. Then, at 20 weeks pregnant with her rainbow baby, while Fiona and her husband Paul should have been experiencing the joy and excitement of her long-awaited pregnancy, Fiona was faced with a devastating diagnosis: Chondrosarcoma in her skull base, a very rare form of bone cancer.

Fiona’s tumour is in a very difficult location to access and she has already been told that removal of the entire tumour will not be possible.

Fiona’s neurosurgery team in Beaumont Hospital have advised her that she should carry her baby to term before they attempt to remove her tumour. She will need open skull surgery which is highly complex and comes with a lengthy recovery. This surgery will take place 3 weeks after Fiona gives birth to her baby. After surgery Fiona will require specialist radiation treatment, Proton therapy, which is not available here in Ireland but has proven results with this type of tumour. Fiona faces the hard reality of leaving Ireland 10-12 weeks after giving birth to her baby to start this treatment. She will most likely travel to Germany and have to spend 10 weeks receiving intensive treatment, all with her new born baby.

While the cost of Proton therapy is covered by the government, Fiona and Paul will have to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and other costs associated with the treatment. Having spoken to numerous charities and researching accommodation suitable for her needs we are estimating this to cost in excess of €20,000. We are therefore raising funds to assist Fiona and Paul with these costs. Any contribution, no matter how small, would make a huge difference in easing the burden during this incredibly difficult time.

Funds raised, above what is needed, will be happily donated in Fiona’s name to The Gavin Glynn Foundation. This amazing Irish charity assists the families of children with cancer, with all the logisitics and financial aspects of travelling overseas for specialist cancer treatment, such as proton therapy.

We have hope. Please keep Fiona, her husband Paul, and their baby in your thoughts and prayers as they face this challenging journey.

With Thanks,

Eoin & Mark.