This is the tear-jerking moment that Liathán O'Donnchadha told her daughter that she had beaten cancer.
Having been experiencing pain when sitting down, the West Belfast woman knew something was wrong when she woke up in a pool of blood. She phoned her GP, who seen her that day and referred her on to see a gynaecologist.
The 42-year-old was told on her birthday, in April, that she had a rare form of cancer - cancer of the vagina which was also along the line of her bladder.
Read more: 'It saved my life': Belfast mum calls for upgraded cervical cancer checks in NI
"This all started in January/February time and I was having pain down below," the Moyard woman told Belfast Live.
"When I was sitting down, it was hurting me. It was like that for a while and one night I woke up in a puddle of blood. I knew there and then that something wasn't right so I phoned my GP.
"He was able to get me in that day but was unable to do a smear because of the pain I was experiencing. I was then referred to see a gynaecologist in the City Hospital. When I went there, she was able to do the smear and avoid the tumour.
"We didn't know at that time that it was a tumour but the gynaecologist took swabs and then I had a biopsy. They called me back and on April 12, my birthday, I was told had a rare form of cancer, cancer of the vagina.
"It is a very rare cancer and it was on my vagina wall and also along the lining of my bladder, which made it ore complicated because they could have taken it away through a hysterectomy. My option then was then to go with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
"For six weeks, every day I had radiotherapy and then every Tuesday I went for my chemotherapy. The radiotherapy was soul destroying. It was horrific leaving my children for it. That was really tough. The whole summer was soul destroying for them too.
"I have never left my kids, not even for one night. It was really hard and thinking back, it is difficult. I don't know how I did it. I remember one day lying under the radiotherapy machine just saying their names out loud. They got my through it, every single day I saw their wee faces and I couldn't imagine their life without their mummy.
"There was no option, I had to fight this for my kids, and I had to win."
Liathán found out yesterday, November 10 2022, that she was now cancer free. Those words were what she longed for since her diagnosis.
Eager to tell her children, Eireann, 9, and Lochlann, 5, she decided to get Eireann a special balloon, to deliver the news in a special way.
"When they told me I was cancer free, I just started to scream and cry," she added.
"I couldn't believe it. No more treatment. I had beaten it. I just couldn't wait to tell my kids because I knew how much it would mean to them.
"Eireann is ten on Tuesday and she said this was the best birthday present she could ever get. She was there for me throughout it all, she helped me bath and everything. Their daddy James too, he helped to look after me through it all.
"Eireann said to me last night: 'Mummy, I don't need anything more for my birthday, I have you'."
Liathán says she now wants to raise awareness for smear tests, having not gone for hers in ten years.
"I always just put it off," she added.
"I just want to raise awareness and encourage people to take up their appointment for their smear tests. It really could save your life and pick up something early. I know that I am a very lucky person, but some people aren't so lucky and I am very aware of that."
In Northern Ireland, cervical screening is available to women and people with a cervix aged 25–64. This is the age group where screening is of most benefit. Screening is offered every three years if you are aged 25–49, and every five years if you are aged 50–64.
READ NEXT:
- NI doctor acted dishonestly over death of nine-year-old girl, tribunal rules
- Ardoyne community worker on why local GP surgery needs to stay
- 'I was fainting in pain': NI woman on ulcerative colitis diagnosis
- Councillor calls for GP out-of-hours to reopen for 'concerned young mums'
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
