‘It’s so important for us to create cherished memories and happy times to look back on’

The loving wife of a Walterstown man who is battling stage four cancer says her husband getting the chance to see their son make his first holy communion will be a cherished memory for years to come.

In January, Naomi Mooney's husband John (40) received a shock diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer, having been ill for just a few weeks.

Just one day later he was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery before embarking on a gruelling 12-week course of chemotherapy.

Last May their son Mark (9) whose only wish was for his father to be cured of the disease came up with the idea to reboot the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society.

He said he wanted to bring back the famous charity campaign to “help people like his dad get better.”

The brave youngster pulled in an amazing €6,500 for the charity.

It has been a tough year for the caring second class student who had his First Holy Communion postponed due to lockdown but he finally got to have his big day in The Church of the Nativity in Johnstown village along with his pals in Lismullen NS last Tuesday 6th October just hours before level 3 restrictions came into play.

An occasion, mum Naomi says their family “will never forget”, she added:

“The Communion was meant to be on the Friday but we found out on the Monday that Level 3 restrictions were going to come into play but we didn’t know when they were going to be implemented.

“Luckily they didn’t come in until midnight on the Tuesday and our priest Fr Cahill was already doing two communions that day and he kindly offered to do the six classes in the parish between Lismullen NS and St Stephen’s NS.

“Mark was delighted and all of the kids loved it. It was paired back and there were no frills but I think that’s what made it so special.

“When Mark had the enrolment ceremony back in February we were just home from a hospital appointment and John was so tired he wasn’t able to go so he missed that so being well enough to attend the communion meant the world to him.

“It’s so important for us to create cherished memories and have those happy times to look back on. Going through cancer and living through the pandemic makes you realise that the simple things are the best.”

Naomi describes the heartbreaking chain of events that led to the devastating diagnosis.

“We thought John had a hernia initially, he was getting a lot of pains, he wasn’t eating and he was losing weight.

“A few weeks later he was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer.

“He had to have emergency surgery the following day to do an emergency defunctioning loop colostomy as his bowel had perforated a small amount and was at risk of a lot larger one happening.

“After more tests, we were advised that the cancer was advanced but treatable so we are hoping to keep it stable as long as possible, you have to hold on to the hope.”

Earlier this year, childhood sweethearts John and wife Naomi, 38, were dealt a further blow when they were forced to cancel their wedding in March - organised by the kindness of local suppliers in just a few weeks - due to coronavirus restrictions.

With John’s deteriorating health, the defiant couple were determined to become husband and wife and opted for an intimate spiritualist ceremony with just three guests all caught on Zoom so family and friends could be a part of the day at home.

It was “more important than ever” for the couple - together since 2002 - to finally tie the knot and “solidify their family unit,” according to Naomi.

The Walterstown mum who says her husband “keeps fighting every day” to be there for their family.

“He’s had 12 rounds of chemotherapy and 11 rounds of biological therapy so far.

“He is going to have some tests in a few weeks and we will see if surgery will be necessary to remove tumours on the liver and the colon.

“He has responded well to treatment and they are keeping things stable.

“He’s determined to keep fighting.”

The proud mum describes a heartwarming moment when nine-year-old Mark made a wish for his dad to get better.

“Over the last few years, myself and Mark have had a tradition that whenever there is a meteor shower and a clear night, I’ll wake him up during the night so we can watch out for shooting stars together.

“In the past, his wishes have always been for something for himself but when out for the most recent one, his first wish was for his dad to get better.”