A Co Tyrone family have paid tribute to their "brave brother, son, husband and friend" who passed away peacefully while in Texas receiving cancer treatment.
Cormac McLaughlin, from Castlederg, had travelled to the US where he was accepted onto a clinical trial to help save his life after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. However, after the treatment had been unsuccessful his family began a campaign to help him return home as he was too ill to fly commercially.
His family has said that the 39-year-old "didn't lose the fight" against cancer as he put up the "courageous battle" even in the darkest of days. The family will now use the money they had been fundraising to bring him home.
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In a post on their Care For Cormac Facebook page, the family shared how proud they were of Cormac for his positive outlook despite what life had thrown at him.
They said: "Our brave brother, son, husband & friend Cormac has passed away very peacefully in Texas…
"His initial good progress just wasn’t to last. His body had battled so hard for the last 18 months and it took its toll. Cormac just wasn’t strong or stable enough in the end to fly home.
"The money donated to get him home will still be spent to do so, just not the way we had wanted. It will also be used for the hospital bills.
"We are eternally grateful for all your financial support so that Cormac had the chance to access the trial and other treatment options approved in America, in one of the best cancer hospitals in the world. He said he always wanted to “try everything” and fight this as hard as he could."
The post continued: "He didn’t lose the fight - as we’ve never seen a more courageous battle... We’re forever proud of how, at only 39 years of age, he faced such a life-changing diagnosis and got himself through the dark days so positively. He’s at peace now with daddy, looking after his nephew Leo.
"Our family have suffered a lot in recent years, but the love and support shown by friends, family, colleagues, his students, entire communities worldwide and people we’ve never met, has been unbelievable. We will never ever forget it. Thank you all so much."
The family has said that details of funeral arrangements are to follow.
Care for Cormac's fundraising page can be viewed here.
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