“The kindness that I received at the hospital from everybody, from the medical team, from the nurses and catering staff, even the cleaners, just... I can’t put it into words.”
The St Valentine’s Charity Gala is inspired by Anne McGoldrick and the remarkable care she received that made such a difference to her cancer journey and recovery.
“In March of 2023 I discovered a lump in my breast. I went to my GP, who in turn sent me straight to the Breast Clinic in the Mater Hospital.
“They did a biopsy on a Friday. By Thursday the following week I was getting my hair done for a night out when I got a call from oncology in the Mater. They asked me to go straight to Cavan Hospital to get bloods done. I left the hairdressers right away.
“The following Monday morning, the Mater phoned me to come up that day and to bring somebody with me. I wondered to myself, Am I really sick? I felt I was fine; we had just gotten back from a holiday, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me.
“Dr Fortune and one of the specialist nurses told me I had non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Specifically, Burkitt lymphoma. It is a rare, fast-growing disease that with early intervention has high survival rates.
“That day, it was an awful lot to take in. In the space of two weeks, I went from not a care in the world to being spun into that. You never think something like that would suddenly turn your world upside down.
“I couldn’t believe that I had this. To be perfectly honest with you, I had heard of non-Hodgkin lymphoma but really didn’t know anything about it. I thought to myself, ‘I just hope I’m able for the treatment.’
“The next morning, they had a bed for me in the Mater, so I packed my bags and off I went. I told my husband, ‘This is going to be my home now for a long time.’ I went into the hospital on the 21st of March, and I came out on the 21st of August. I was there for over five months.
“The treatment was tough going, and the complications and the side effects were harsh. The complications were real but, I always had just one goal; To get better.
“The care I got from the exceptional medical team was incredible. I felt very safe in their hands. I had never been in hospital, apart from when any of my children were born, I was never sick. I was blown away by it all.
“Eventually, I was able to go back home. It is a long road after spending that length of time in hospital, to be back out in the world again. You’re vulnerable, you’re uncertain of yourself. You are adjusting to a new norm for quite a while. I was a completely different person physically than I was when I first went into the hospital.
“Thankfully, after two years, I am slowly getting back to myself, but it has been a long road. I’m where I am, and I’m very thankful for it.
“Somebody asked me in the oncology unit in Cavan, how I felt about the whole thing. And my thing is, whereby I was very unlucky to get that diagnosis, I was extremely lucky—that I was able for the treatment, that I had the care, and that I had a good medical team.”
St Valentine’s Charity Gala
“One of my friends asked me if I’d ever consider doing something to give back to the Mater and Cavan hospitals, as I always speak so highly of them. I thought, ‘I’d love to!’ and it has grown legs since then.
“The St Valentine’s Charity Gala is taking place on 14th February in the Slieve Russell Hotel in County Cavan. Tickets are €100 and can be purchased from the Ballyconnell Credit Union.
“I hope on the 14th, people will enjoy themselves while giving to a very good cause: St Vincent’s Ward on the seventh floor in the Mater Hospital and oncology in Cavan General Hospital.
“I think people are excited that there is a special occasion. We have an emcee, a local male choir, a comedian and a band playing on the night. It will be a nice time for people to reconnect.
“The night wouldn’t happen without the committee that came together, without their hard work, or without people giving up their time.
“Loads of people have family or have been through it, have had that cancer journey themselves. It is a sad journey and it’s tough going, but there’s always good in everything. From it, I’ve seen the best in people.
“Had I never been sick, I might never have seen that. There’s always a positive to every negative.
“It’s a very personal journey for everybody. For me, my family were so important in that journey. It’s not easy and I know people are so different, but you have to stay positive, and you have to keep going if you can.
“I always think, if there’s any little glimmer of hope, just go for it. You never know the outcome. Keep going, as hard sometimes as it may be. If you can be open, let people help you, it takes some of the burden away.”
Anne McGoldrick, Cavan