One Garth Brooks fan had her prayers answered after she was able to make one of his Croke Park gigs despite undergoing cancer treatment.
Elaine Fitzsimons, 41, was in hospital just days ago but managed to take her place among the 84,000-strong crowd at Croke Park on Friday to see her idol perform.
Elaine is currently battling breast cancer and recently spent eleven days in hospital before being discharged on Tuesday. The Bettystown native had tickets to see the country music legend last weekend, but Aiken Promotions kindly changed her tickets to last night so she wouldn't miss the show.
Read More : Met Eireann forecasts major change as temperatures swing by 15C
Speaking to Dublin Live, Elaine described the show as "absolutely amazing", despite requiring medical help near the end. She also revealed that Brooks spotted her in the crowd and "blew her kisses".
"I only got discharged from hospital on Tuesday," Elaine said. "I was supposed to go last weekend but I was admitted into hospital for eleven days due to my chemo. I got in contact with Aiken Promotions and they changed my tickets for last night.
"So I was obviously delighted with that. I got right up to the front, but during the last half hour of the concert the weather changed and it got really cold. It got into my bones and I ended up in the medics after the concert.
"But I really, really enjoyed it. I had a banner which said 'cancer took my roots but I've still shown up in boots', the same as my t-shirt. I was on the walkway and Garth saw the banner. He blew kisses and made love hearts with his hands, he was really happy to see it.
"It was absolutely amazing. I didn't think I was going to make it from hospital to it."
Elaine said that "every muscle in her body is aching" this morning, but the show was more than worth it. "I got in a bit earlier so I could stand as close as I could to him," she explained.
"It was myself, my husband, my dad and my brother but we were all separated because I wanted to get as close as I could to him, my dad and my brother were down the back somewhere and my husband was somewhere in the bar drunk!"
Elaine said she is on the hunt to get last minute tickets for Brooks' final gig tonight. "I want to go again tonight, I had a ball yesterday. It was only the last half hour when the muscles started going and it was due to not wearing the right clothing."
She added that she "cannot thank the medical team at Croke Park enough", saying their care last night was "absolutely fantastic".
Elaine explained that she's had a "lot of ups and downs" since her diagnosis, but has received "an awful lot of support" from family and friends.
"It's going good at the moment," she said. "I had my last bit of chemo two weeks ago. I've had ups and downs with it, probably more downs than ups to be honest.
"I'm due to go on holiday with all of my family in three weeks' time. When I come back from that I'm due to do 20 sessions of radiation. I have a CT scan on the 26th of this month as well so please God it goes well.
"I have an awful lot of support from family, friends and work colleagues. We did a big fundraiser a while back for breast cancer in Beaumont and raised €11,500. My football team and job got involved in that so that was a big success."
READ NEXT :
Consumer champ says Irish householders could save around €400 with easy energy saving tip
Top presenter blasts RTE for Queen Elizabeth funeral decision
Expert confirms a tsunami could hit Ireland after 'psychic's' sensational claim
Kinahan Cartel money man Johnny Morrissey only returned to Spain a fortnight ago
Fiona O'Carroll opens up to RTE's Ryan Tubridy on life after marriage split
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
