Fundraiser set up to support young mother undergoing cancer treatment in Cork
Rachael Whitehead and her son Leo.
A fundraising campaign has been set up to support a young mother undergoing cancer treatment in Cork.
Rachael Whitehead, 31, was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma last month, following a visit to Limerick University Hospital (LUH).
Ms Whitehead, who studied to become a midwife last year, attended LUH as she was experiencing pains in her back and right leg.
She was then sent for an MRI scan, which led to the discovery of tumours on her brain and spine.
The Clare native, who has a six-year-old son, Leo, was then referred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for further treatment, and has since underwent brain and spinal surgery.
Ms Whitehead has remained in Cork since her surgery where she is also undergoing radiotherapy treatment at the Bons Secours Hospital.
Speaking to about the discovery of Rachael’s illness, her mother Louise Whitehead said hearing the news felt like a “stab into the heart.”
“She was complaining of weird little symptoms during the first three weeks of work,” said Mrs Whitehead.
“She had a pain in her back and she thought she had turned funny at the nurses station one day, so I rubbed it for her with Diphene gel, but then the following week she felt her right leg getting a bit [painful].
“I told her then she would have to go to SouthDoc, in case it was some sort of disc issue – so she went, and they thought it was a slipped disc, and we went to her GP then, and they sent her to LUH.
“I brought her into A&E, she saw the doctors, they referred her to orthopedics, and she was sent for an MRI.
Mrs Whitehead went on to describe the moment the news of her daughter’s illness was delivered, saying that Rachael was sitting in a wheelchair when she arrived at the hospital, and had just been told that further investigation was required.
“This beautiful, vibrant, young girl was just wondering what the heck was going on inside her body,” said Mrs Whitehead.
“They told her then she was going to be moved to Cork by ambulance - we were just so shocked.”
Ms Whitehead was then transferred to the neurosurgery department in CUH, where she was told that a biopsy would need to be taken.
“The plan then was that she was going to have a laminectomy, which is spinal surgery, and a craniotomy, to remove the brain tumours,” said Mrs Whitehead.
“I think a part of us, all of her family, died that day [of the surgery] until we heard she was back in recovery and doing okay.
“Luckily, the brain tumour is showing no signs of coming back and the tumours on her spine are not spreading – its a huge win for our baby.”
Mrs Whitehead said her daughter would be starting her first round of radiotherapy this week.
“Every day from Monday for six full weeks for about an hour or two a day,” she said.
Mrs Whitehead further said that the fundraiser was set up to ensure that Rachael is not worried about the cost of travel and accommodation during her treatment, and to also give the family a fail-safe for further care abroad in case the treatment is not successful.
The Whitehead family further asked to give a special mention to the teams at CUH, the Bon Secours Hospital and at Brú Columbanus, where they have stayed when visiting Rachael in hospital.
“We called the fundraiser Princess Rachael because since the day she entered our lives, she has been our little princess.”
To make a donation visit www.gofundme.com/princess-rachael.
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