The son of a Celtic fan who tragically died after travelling to Las Vegas for a Hoops convention has spoken of his heartbreak.
Kevin Martin, 32, was packing a bag to fly to his mother Ellen Cassidy's bedside when he received the devastating news she had passed away on Thursday night.
Ellen was on a 10-day trip to the US when she received the shock cancer diagnosis. The 54-year-old began to suffer from fatigue and pain near her kidneys during the trip. She was rushed to nearby Sunrise Hospital and Medical Centre where doctors discovered cancer in her gallbladder.
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A scan later found the cancer had already spread to Ellen's lungs, kidneys and liver and Kevin was told she wouldn't have long to live.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Kevin said: "This has been the most difficult week of my life.
"My mum flew to Vegas for a dream holiday and now I have to bring her ashes home.
"She was so excited before she left. Never did I think in a million years it would have ended like this.
"It has been a horrendous few days."
He added: "I had gone out for a walk last night to clear my head and saw I had missed calls from the hospital in America.
"The nurse told me my mum had passed away peacefully in her sleep, which gave me some comfort.
"The nurse was incredibly compassionate and the staff have been incredible to me."
Hospital staff told Kevin they could only keep his mum's body for two hours before it would be sent to the local morgue.
He now plans to have Ellen cremated in the USA and bring her ashes home for a memorial in two weeks.
Kevin said: "My mum always wanted to be cremated so I'm going to hold a memorial mass when I bring her home.
"I've received a lot of well-wishes from fellow Celtic fans. I hope I can arrange a tribute for her at Celtic Park. It would have meant everything to her."
Kevin flew out to Las Vegas yesterday morning (June 24) but flight cancellations meant he had to pay £4,000 for the flights.
He will have to stay in the US for two weeks to make arrangements to bring his mum's ashes home on July 7.
His auntie has started a fundraising page in the hope of being able to raise cash for his accommodation.
The fundraising page can be found here.
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