EDITORIAL: Your stories save lives, and we thank you for sharing them with us

This week is International Brain Tumour Awareness Week.

In last week’s edition of The Nationalist and on tipperarylive.ie, we read the story of Mary Linehan from Cahir and this week, in the Tipperary Star, the story of Joseph Ryan from Thurles.

Both shared their journey of treatment and recovery from brain tumours.

People like Mary and Joseph share their experiences so others might recognise signs and symptoms and know where to go to get help. Their stories show other people that they are not alone, support is available and above all, that there is hope, even when things seem dire.

They tell us that when things are scary and confusing, there is someone out there who went through it and came out the other side. And they are not the only stories that have graced the pages of this paper.

People have sat down with us and detailed their struggles with addiction, homelessness, access to services and a variety of conditions and illnesses, mental and physical.

Some people speak to us afterwards, and some come to us as they are going through it.

Either way, it is an incredibly brave thing to do.

The thing is that many of these people tell us it’s no big deal to share their stories.

They have been through it, made peace or have told it so many times it holds no emotional weight for them.

But it is a big deal because awareness stories save an immeasurable amount of lives.

And sharing one’s story can be a rewarding and empowering experience. We hope it is always so when you sit down with one of us.

For our part, it is an honour to facilitate the sharing of these powerful stories.

Your stories might be ones we have to come back to one day in our personal lives or perhaps for one of our loved ones.

Regardless of who needed to read it this week, we know someone did.

So, thank you to anyone who has trusted us with your struggle and your journey.

Your story matters to us and to those who might read it and think: “that sounds like me”.