‘It’s not my time’ - brave mother facing down terminal diagnosis
“I DON’T care what the medics say, it's not my time,” said a brave mother who is determined to beat her terminal cancer diagnosis to see her son grow up.
Katarzyna (Kat) Dorociak-Kwacz is battling a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma) and had to have a biliary drainage catheter inserted into her liver, which has to be replaced every six to eight weeks.
Doctors have given the 42-year-old from Drogheda just between three to 12 months to live but she is intent on proving them wrong.
“I knew something was wrong. My eyes were yellow and I developed an itch all over my body. I thought it might be jaundice,” said Kat who recently proudly celebrated getting her Irish citizenship.
“I don't drink, smoke or take drugs and yet I was told I have bile duct cancer and PCS disease (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis) which make my condition even rarer.
“I'm lucky though, the medics here are offering me treatment but in my native Poland, they wouldn't bother offering you anything but palliative care with the same condition.
“I think sometimes that this is worse for my 13-year-old son Peter and my husband Mateusz because they were worried about me when I was in hospital a lot in recent months. I'm home now so they can see how I'm doing.
“Initially doctors thought I had tumours on my liver and we were preparing for news of a transplant until more detailed biopsy tests were returned showing the cancer.”
Kat who worked as a Direct Support Worker with St Michael's House in Dublin, until she got sick, is now fundraising to be able to afford immunotherapy treatment, at a cost of €40,000, which will give her a fighting chance.
“I'm not giving up. This is not my time. I believe in miracles, never mind what the doctors say.
“I had two bad days at the start when I was told the news but I've decided that cancer is not going to get me. I'm doing everything I can and all the research I can. I am going to do what it takes.
“Staying positive doesn't mean you have to be happy all the time. It means that even on hard days, you know better ones are coming.
“In recent weeks, I almost fainted while changing my dressing and I was in so much pain that I had to take the strongest painkiller which I haven't taken since last being in hospital.
“But, I got up, got dressed and left the house because I will never miss my son's basketball match.
“I want to see my son grow up and if I can do that, that will mean everything to me.”