Sharon Ball, a 38-year-old primary school teacher who was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, stage 4 skull-based osteosarcoma, is gearing up to start her stage of treatment
Sharon Ball and her husband Dermot(Image: GoFundMe)
A young mum from County Meath who underwent life-saving brain surgery in America says she will be starting her next phase of treatment, which includes intensive chemotherapy.
Sharon Ball and her husband Dermot travelled to New York last month for the specialist operation needed for stage 4 skull-based osteosarcoma, which she was diagnosed with last October.
The 38-year-old mum-of-three received great news that 97% of the tumour was removed thanks to the surgery, but that she would need further treatment of proton radiation and chemotherapy.
Now, in a new update shared to her GoFundMe page, which has raised over €875,000, Sharon revealed that her next stage of treatment started today.
“Today, Sharon begins the next stage of her treatment: five days of intensive chemotherapy here in Ireland, before travelling to London for Proton Beam Radiation Therapy and further chemotherapy,” her sister-in-law, Catriona O’Brien, wrote.
“Over the past six weeks, we have witnessed Sharon’s unimaginable strength as she recovered from surgery while also coordinating with medical teams in the US and UK to carefully plan this next phase of her journey. It has been a heavy mental load, but in the midst of it all, Sharon was able to spend much-needed quality time with her beautiful children, Dermot, family, and friends.
“There is no doubt that chemotherapy is tough — but it is no match for Sharon’s strength and hope. As she faces this next stage, we ask you to keep Sharon in your thoughts and prayers and surround her with healing energy.”
Sharon also wrote a message on the fundraising page, saying she was ‘beyond grateful’ that she still has choices and options.
“I am starting the next stage of my journey of treatment. The tumour is still growing, and there are cancer cells left, so we have to hit it hard with both Radon Beam Proton Therapy every day for 7/8 weeks with a combination of chemotherapy in London. We hope and pray that this next stage is our next miracle.
“I need all my strength and prayers to get me through this. I am still speechless with the continuous support. Wave of infectious love and care. It’s gives me a massive uplift and strength to continue to fight”
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