Help mum-of-three, 36, whose cancer battle went ‘from curing to prolonging life’

AN URGENT appeal has been made to “ease the financial stress” on a mum-of-three whose cancer battle has gone “from curing to prolonging life”. 

Laura Casserly, 36, has stage four sarcoma cancer with metastases to the lungs and lymph nodes.

The mother of three young children, from Leixlip, Co Kildare, was diagnosed with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) on Easter Sunday, 2021.

Her youngest daughter was only ten months old when she got the shock diagnosis.

At this stage, Laura had stage two-B, treatable cancer. She underwent five weeks of radiation therapy and had a resection of her calf to remove the lump.

The young mum, who now lives in Enfield, Co Meath, had to learn to walk again during a gruelling rehabilitation for 12 weeks.

In October 2021, Laura had pain in her knee, and further tests showed the cancer had returned and spread into her lymph nodes and both of her lungs. 

Organiser Faye Byrne set up the fundraiser to help her family “focus on making memories for when Laura is no longer there”.

Faye wrote in a statement on the fundraiser site GoFundMe that Laura was given the devastating news that her cancer was at stage four in 2021.

However, “the treatment plan had gone from curing the cancer to prolonging her life”.

She said: “Laura was given 6 months of the strongest chemotherapy available and then had an amputation of her right leg on the June 29, 2023.

“In another blow on November 8, 2023, the doctors found a 3cm Lymph node Lump in the top of Laura’s leg. 

“She was given a Chemotherapy Pill to take, and this had no effect on the cancer and unfortunately on the November 26, Laura was rushed to A&E for emergency chemo as the cancer was progressing rapidly, and the treatment she was on wasn’t working.

“Laura’s lung tumour has now grown from 3cm to 5cm, and the doctors have decided more radiation is the best course of action. 

“This is made all the more difficult as last time Laura had radiation, her dad was there to support her through every step, but unfortunately, he passed away suddenly a few weeks ago.” 

Over €25,000 has been raised since the fundraiser’s launch today.

Fund hopes

They hope to raise at least €30,000 to help alleviate some of the costs of treatments. 

Organiser Faye, a friend of the mum-of-three, added that all donations will help ease the huge financial stress of Laura’s illness on her family.

She said husband Keith has had to leave his full-time job to help look after Laura and the children. 

Faye added: “No one should have to just survive when you are just trying to survive.

“At this stage, we are hoping to raise money to make Laura and Keith as comfortable as possible so they can focus on making memories for their beautiful young family for when Laura is no longer there.”