Mother’s Camino trek after son, brother and husband had cancer

The Mercy Hospital in Cork has played a significant role in the lives of of Grace O’Callaghan’s family.

The doctors and nurses there have cared for both her late brother David and her son Luke.

“The staff at the Mercy Hospital are only brilliant,” says Grace, a mother of four.

“All of the people attached to the hospital are wonderful, including Martina the tea lady. She’d say to Luke when he was in the Mercy for treatment, ‘I can get you anything you want’.”

Grace, who lives in Dungarvan, became very familiar with the Cork hospital when Luke was cared for there when he was very ill with a rare aggressive cancer.

Meanwhile, Grace’s brother David, despite receiving the best medical care at the Mercy, sadly lost his battle for life on July 1, 2024.

“It was too late for him,” says Grace.

But thankfully not too late for Luke.

“When Luke was going through treatment in the Mercy for his cancer, I went to the hospital every day,” says Grace.

“I never missed a day.”

Grace, having forged such strong ties with the Mercy, is so thankful to its staff for all they did, and are doing, caring for her son and for her brother.

And she is not missing out on the opportunity to give back to its fundraising arm.

She and her family are undertaking a major initiative to raise money for it.

“In April,” explains Grace, “myself, my husband Dermot, our sons Luke and James, and two of Luke’s best friends from college, Gavin Grant and Gillian Horgan, are embarking on the final 100km of the Camino de Santiago, while raising funds for the Mercy Cancer Care Centre, which will help a range of services to patients.”

Grace is already gearing up for the trek along the famous pilgrimage network in north-western Spain,

“Walking the 100km route with my family and our friends will make the Camino a great experience,” she says.

Cancer is a disease that affects families everywhere, and Grace is sadly no stranger to it.

“While David and Luke were both seriously ill, Dermot was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” she says. Like her son, Luke, Dermot faced unexpected life-changing challenges with dignity and bravery.

“Life has thrown an incredible series of challenges at our family,” says Grace.

The O’Callaghans saw a welcome chink of light amid the dark days they lived through, in the shape of the Mercy Hospital.

“Our connection to the Mercy has been a beacon of hope and healing,” says Grace.

When did the O’Callaghan family first forge close ties with the hospital?

“It all began in August, 2022, when our eldest son, Luke, a vibrant and strong 22-year-old, was diagnosed with cancer after a scan revealed a mass in his pelvic area,” says Grace.

He had been living his life; the one he wanted to live.

“A dedicated hurler, Luke was gearing up for senior hurling training just a week before his life unexpectedly changed courses,” says Grace.

What does a mother do, how does she react when she finds out that her first-born’s life is hanging in the balance, and is depending on the amazing people who are our doctors and nurses?

“You are shocked to the core,” says Grace, who was on a family holiday abroad when she found out Luke was sick.

“Our son James had ed his brother Luke at the Budapest Grand Prix,” says Grace, recalling the worst days of her life.

The O’Callaghans look out for each other.

“When James ed us later in Portugal, he mentioned that Luke was not well and that he wasn’t able to drive,” says Grace.

“I had been aware Luke had experienced problems going to the bathroom. As soon as we returned from abroad, I coaxed Luke to go the GP who gave him medicine to help him water without pain.”

Why did Grace have to coax Luke to go to the doctor?

“Luke was to play an important GAA match on that Sunday,” says Grace. “But he was in no position to play the match.

“He couldn’t get out of bed because of the pain in his pelvic area.”

Grace, always looking out for her son, persuaded him to attend the VHI Clinic.

Luke is a typical young man.

“He said, ‘ya, ya’,” says Grace.

But he eventually went to the clinic.

“He was referred to Whitfield in Waterford for a scan.”

There was normally a wait of 10 to 12 weeks, but they got an earlier appointment when Grace explained to them what was wrong.

And things were very wrong.

“Following another scan, two massive tumours were discovered,” says Grace. “It was a massive shock.

“Dr Derek Power subsequently told us that Luke was the sickest patient in the Mercy when he was itted.”

The dedicated nurses working at the Mercy recognised this.

They answered the call.

“The nurses were brought into the hospital at the weekend to ister three days of chemotherapy in a row, so that there was no interruption in the treatment,” says Grace,

There was no time lost in the best efforts to rid Luke, a vibrant and lively young man, of the deadly disease that threatened his life.

“The Mercy swiftly came to our side, initiating Luke’s chemotherapy just a week after his ission,” says Grace.

Luke was a hero on the playing field, and he was a hero in enduring gruelling treatment to try and banish his cancer.

“He endured seven rounds of chemotherapy, an intensive cycle of radiotherapy at St Luke’s in Dublin, and further months of chemotherapy,” says Grace, who seldom left her son’s side in his time of need.

The combined best efforts of the medical staff at the Mercy paid off.

“Thankfully, the treatment worked its wonders,” says Grace.

“Even though Luke’s urethras were damaged, resulting in a nephrostomy, he stands resilient and is back to work.”

A nephrostomy is a tube that lets urine drain from the kidney through an opening in the skin on the back.

“Luke’s treatment is ongoing, and he gets scans every three months, his spirit is undeterred,” says Grace.

The O’Callaghan’s journey with cancer didn’t end there.

“While Luke’s treatment was ongoing, my brother David was diagnosed,” says Grace.

The two men were in the same boat.

“They were often in the Mercy together at the same time,” says Grace.

“And I would split my time between them on each ward.”

David tackled his disease courageously too.

“He bravely fought his battle with the full of the comforting walls of the Mercy,” says Grace.”

But David sadly ed away last summer.

Another storm arrived during this tumultuous time.

“While Luke was being treated, Dermot was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” says Grace.

“His treatment in Dublin has shown positive outcomes, and over a year later, he continues to recover with grace and strength.”

Grace, a lady with plenty of courage and spirit, is positive that walking 100km on the Camino for the Mercy Cancer Care Centre, with her loved ones, will light the path to recovery for others.

“Each contribution will provide critical services for patients and families navigating their own battles,” she says. “Easing their journey with the same comionate care we received at the Mercy Hospital in Cork.”

How did Grace stay so strong during that time when cancer tainted the lives of her family?

“You just keep strong,” she says. “I don’t know any other way.”

She does know something important.

“Life is for living. Seeing Luke sick every day in hospital, I realised waiting to do things is not the way to go.”

Grace knows exactly the way to go.

“I’m getting back to walking distances ahead of our Camino trip. I know we will all have a great time doing the walk while helping those who helped us.”

You can the O’Callaghan Camino Challenge on idonate.ie

See http:/www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/GraceOCallaghan3