Limerick community rallies in support of local hurler battling 'rare' cancer
WHEN your life revolves around family, work and GAA, what happens when these “priorities” all change with a bone cancer diagnosis?
Since late last year, 41-year-old Andrew Sexton from Bruree has been on this journey, and according to friends and family, will continue on this journey for the foreseeable future.
On October 26, 2022, while engaged in work, Andrew noticed some difficulty when swinging a sledgehammer in one direction. Later that day, during hurling training with his son and fellow club members at Bruree GAA, Andrew suddenly fell to the ground in excruciating pain.
His brother, serving as the club's first aider, provided immediate assistance. Concerns initially revolved around a severe muscle strain in Andrew's upper arm, although the intensity of the pain prompted further investigation. Andrew was promptly taken to University Hospital Limerick.
Upon examination at the hospital, an x-ray confirmed a break in Andrew's upper arm. He was fitted with a sling and sent home.
The following day, Andrew received an urgent call from the hospital, summoning him for additional tests. It was during these examinations that doctors made a distressing discovery — approximately five inches of the bone in Andrew's upper arm had eroded, revealing a lesion.
Subsequent biopsies confirmed a diagnosis of Leiomyosarcoma of the bone, a rare form of cancer originating in smooth muscles.
Since then, Andrew has frequented hospitals in Dublin for tests and has been left with no choice but to remove the bone from his arm and replace it with a specific five-inch metal prosthesis which took 10 weeks to make in the UK.
Now, as the sportsman is no longer playing sport or working at the moment, his friends and family have launched a fundraiser to provide much-needed financial relief for Andrew and his family as they navigate through this difficult period.
The fundraiser, which can be found by searching Andrew Sexton Bruree Fundraiser on GoFundMe, aims to alleviate the significant burdens faced by the Sexton family, which even extend far beyond financial concerns.
In addition, a Golf Classic is also scheduled to take place in the coming months at Charleville Golf Club. On July 21 to 22, this golf event will offer an opportunity for individuals to win prizes, and above all, show their support for Andrew.