Celtic Convention chiefs have spoken out after a Glasgow mum, who fell ill at the Las Vegas event, died on Thursday.
We told how Ellen Cassidy started suffering from extreme fatigue and pain near her kidneys while attending the convention in Nevada last week. The 54-year-old from Springburn was rushed to nearby Sunrise Hospital and Medical Centre last Thursday.
A scan found cancer in her gallbladder and she had an emergency op to remove the organ, reports the Daily Record. During surgery, doctors discovered the cancer had already spread to her lungs, kidneys and liver. They told her family, including son Kevin, that she did not have long to live.
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Frantic loved ones launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of Kevin's flights and accommodation. The 32-year-old was due to fly out first thing on Friday morning. But it was too late as, at 9.36pm UK time, Ellen passed away.
In the wake of her tragic passing, convention chiefs took to social media to release express their condolences. A statement was released in the early hours of Friday morning by the North American Federation of Celtic Supporters Clubs (NAFCSC) Conventions in the early hours of Friday morning, UK time.
It read: "It’s with extremely heavy heart we heard the sad news that Ellen passed this afternoon at 1.37pm Las Vegas time. Ellen was thankfully surrounded by her family at this sad time.
"Please pray for her soul, her family and friends. On behalf of Tam and the rest of the NAFCSC may Ellen Requiescat in Pace.
"You’ll never walk alone, Ellen."
Droves of loved ones joined convention bosses in paying tribute to their 'beautiful friend' who had a 'heart of gold'.
One wrote: "Till we meet again my beautiful friend, as you told me not so long ago. Chance made us colleagues but the fun and laughter made us friends."
Another posted: "OMG poor Ellen such a lovely lady. Thoughts are with her and her family."
A third commented: "Ellen is such a lovely lady. My thoughts are with you and your family, Ellen."
Another wrote: "She was a lovely woman, heart of gold."
A fifth posted: "Heartbreaking, she's such a lovely person who always had a laugh."
And another commented: "Heartbreaking. Such a lovely person."
We reported that Kevin confirmed his mother's tragic passing in a short statement on the fundraiser.
It read: "Thanks everyone for your generous donations and kind words of support
"Mum has now gained her angel wings she passed away peacefully on June 23 at 9.36pm."
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He previously said: “My mum had said she was feeling really tired and a bit unwell so she had been taking painkillers on holiday. Before flying out she was in good health and really looking forward to the trip.
"She’s Celtic daft. She phoned to say she was going to hospital so I knew she really wasn’t feeling well.
"When she called, she could hardly speak she was so breathless. Then she told me she was going for surgery, it was a total shock.
"I just said to her ‘we’ll get you better and get you back home’”.
But Kevin then received a heart-breaking phone call from a surgeon at the hospital who confirmed his mum’s cancer had already spread and that his mum may never come home. It was predicted that she'd receive end of life care in the US as her cancer was so aggressive.
He added: “My mum was too weak to phone me after her surgery. The doctor said during the operation they found the cancer in her liver, lungs and kidneys and it is spreading rapidly.
“They told me I had to fly to Vegas now to see her. I had to get an emergency passport yesterday for my flight.”
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