Daffodil Diaries - Ellen O’Mahony

Ellen O’Mahony, from the Blackrock area of Cork, was just 15 when her world changed forever.

Her mother, Muireann, who had been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, passed away in June 2022 during Ellen’s Junior Cert exams. “I kept getting a really bad headache because I was just so stressed because I knew it was my mom’s last few days,” she recalls.

“My friends had no idea what was going on at home. I think it was my last exam when she passed away. I didn’t finish my exam.”

Muireann’s journey with cancer began years earlier with her first diagnosis of breast cancer. Ellen, who is now 19, was too young at the time to really understand what was happening.

Muireann underwent treatment, and for a time the family were optimistic about her recovery. But in 2021, the cancer returned and spread. “She went through a lot of different treatments, and none of them worked,” Ellen says. “She had chemo, and I remember her trying the cold cap to stop her hair from falling out.” Despite the treatments and her strength, Murieann’s condition worsened over time.

During those final weeks, the Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing service was there to support the family. “A nurse had basically moved in with her,” Ellen recalls. “She was there all the time.” Ellen remembers how her mum looked as her illness progressed. “I started to see her getting thinner and thinner.”

Muireann also received guidance, and counselling was recommended to her family from the Irish Cancer Society.

Ellen describes how difficult it was to balance the reality at home with the pressures of school.

She didn’t share what was happening with her friends or teachers, preferring to keep it to herself. “I wasn’t really telling anyone around me what was going on in school,” she says. “It was just too hard to talk about.”

Despite the heartbreak, Ellen has channelled her grief into something extraordinary: fundraising for the Irish Cancer Society. This summer, she launched “30 challenges in 30 days” in Muireann’s memory, and as Ellen writes on the GoFundMe page:

“She was the strongest, kindest person I’ve ever known. She did her best to help everyone around her despite the battle she was fighting. So in her honour, I'll do my best to help in any way I can.”

People have been generous, and to date Ellen has raised over €14,000. She kicked off the campaign with a skydive on the first day of August. “I think that got a lot of people’s attention. That’s when people really started to donate.”

From kayaking on the River Lee to cooking her mum’s favourite recipes, Ellen has completed a wide variety of challenges, big and small. “Even yesterday, it was just a smaller one - I cooked one of her recipes that I’d never cooked before, just in honour of her. “People have been so supportive,” she says. “It was my mother’s favourite recipe, patatas bravas. She loved that.”

Sharing her journey online has helped Ellen connect with others who have been touched by cancer. “A lot of people ended up sharing my story around. Even people who didn’t know my mum at all donated, because cancer affects nearly every family,” she says. Each day’s challenge, posted to TikTok, has created a sense of community and purpose that keeps her going. “People have been like, ‘Keep it up, you’re doing amazing.’ It’s really helped me to keep going.”

Reflecting on her journey so far, Ellen says she hopes sharing her experience will help other families going through similar situations. “Just spend as much time as you possibly can with them. “Make the most of it,” she says. “It’s hard to watch someone you love get so sick, but those moments together are so important.”

Now, as her fundraising campaign continues to grow, Ellen is proud to be honouring Muireann’s memory while supporting families facing their own cancer journeys. “People have been incredible. “It’s been really good to know that by sharing my story, I can help make a difference,” she says. “Even if it helps just one family get the support they need, it’s worth it.”

Looking ahead, Ellen hopes to continue her involvement with the Irish Cancer Society, raising awareness of the vital services they provide and encouraging other young people to speak up and seek support. “It’s not something you should have to go through alone,” she says. “There’s help out there, and there are people who understand what you’re feeling.”