'A shock like no other'- Irish woman 'blown away' by amount raised after diagnosis
Annie Comerford said she doesn’t want to leave her husband and young boy and is determined to beat cancer
A young Irish mother has received a life-changing sum of money from generous people across the country and beyond after her world was flipped upside down.
Annie Comerford from Gorey, Wexford described her cancer diagnosis as ‘a shock like no other’.
Last February, Annie found out that she had cancer, a type of sarcoma called leiomyosarcoma, in her abdomen.
“It was a shock like no other and extremely scary for my family and me. I had heard the word sarcoma, but had no idea about the different types, and I was suddenly in a situation I never, ever imagined”.
Annie said on GoFundMe that in the months leading up to her diagnosis, her symptoms were only bloating and tiredness.
This was only until she started feeling a pain in her left side every night when she was lying down.
“That new pain led me to make a doctor's appointment, and from there, a week or so later, I was told I had a 'mass' measuring 10x8x9cm behind my stomach in an area of my body called the retroperitoneum.
“Two months followed with a lot of doubt and sadness, whilst the doctors did a biopsy and I waited to start the correct treatment.
“Unfortunately, I was told my tumour is inoperable here in Ireland, due to its location - it's right up against my aorta and inferior vena cava (two major blood vessels that run down your back and are the main blood supplies to your whole body)”.
Annie said that she still remains hopeful that the tumour may shrink to allow surgery or that she can find a surgeon outside of Ireland who would consider surgery.
“It's been a very rough year and a half. I've had many rounds of chemotherapy of different types, a 10-day course of high dose radiotherapy, and now I am on a targeted therapy drug to keep everything stable for as long as possible.
“I've had moments of pure happiness in amongst all the medical mess, and felt love like no other from my son, husband, family and friends.
“I don't want to leave them, so I have decided to keep trying to find an alternative surgeon or treatment that might give me a stronger chance to fight this awful disease”.
Annie’s GoFundMe was created six days ago to raise money for her treatment.
In a short amount of time, the fundraiser has collected a whopping €61,979.
In an update, posted yesterday on Monday July 20, organiser Erica Coote said: “Thank you so, so much to everyone who has donated.
“We are blown away by the unbelievable support and how everyone has got involved to donate, share and spread the word.
“Annie has been overwhelmed with gratitude and feels very, very supported. So thank you.
“It has been quite amazing the past few days and wonderful to think of everyone sharing whether living close to us here in Gorey, just over the water in the UK or far and wide internationally”.
The update said that Annie is meeting with her medical team this week in Dublin to discuss her recent CT scan and she also has multiple calls scheduled for second opinions, one with a German medical team to discuss a potential treatment option.
To donate to the GoFundMe, access it through the link here.