Words of hope from cancer mum Maggie

She said: “I’ve started the treatment already. I feel nervous, excited and very lucky.

“A huge thank you to everyone who has helped get us here and for all your prayers and support.”

Maggie is not allowed to fly so last week she and her commercial photographer husband David drove to the German clinic that offers the revolutionary treatment.

He was back at the family home on Monday to relieve his sister-in-law Oonagh who had been looking after Liam, 10, nine-year-old twins Anne and Daniel, David, seven, Cian, four and three-year-old Fintan.

He admitted sadly he hated leaving Maggie on her own: “But, selfless as ever, she wanted me to come back for the children.

“Her sister is flying out to be with her this week and I’ll collect her on October 12.

“She’ll be home for a month, then has to return every month for 12 days of treatment.

“We won’t know how the it’s going until she has her first scan. But while she’s there we have hope.”

David appealed to Herald&Post readers to raise the £30,000 needed for the treatment as they have already used their life savings in pursuit of a cure. Maggie had a radical mastectomy in 2009 but the cancer has spread.

> To make an urgent donation visit www.maggieshope.co.uk