A SPECIAL Trust has been set up to help raise vital funds for a north county Dublin woman who has an extremely rare form of cancer.
The Caring For Caroline Medical Trust was officially launched this week to offer support to Caroline Fagan-Heyenga (32), from Skerries, who suffers from Metastatic Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma.
Caroline is a remarkable and inspirational woman. At the age of nine she was diagnosed with Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma. For over 21 years she fought tumour after tumour and at various points managed to stabilise the disease.
Throughout her battle Caroline has always led a positive and active life. She married the love of her life, John Heyenga, and has two beautiful children Katie (3) and Claire (2).
In late 2012, she was faced with another hurdle when she discovered her cancer had progressed. It had aggressively spread from her lungs to other parts of her body including her ribs and kidneys.
In January 2013, Caroline began treatment once again. After an extremely tough year her options have become limited having tried all traditional and experimental medical treatments available in Ireland.
Caroline’s best hopes lie in the cutting edge medical treatments available in the United States, and the Trust was set up to raise funds for this treatment.
Actor Stephen Rea and broadcaster Jenny Buckley officially launched the Trust which has already received support from Irish rugby stars including Rob Kearney, Mike Ross, Dave Kearney and Paddy Jackson.
Beyonce’s dancers even recorded a video to show their support for the Trust while they were in Dublin recently.
The Trust is currently involved in many fundraising activities including group participation in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon, the Connemarathon, the Spar Great Ireland Run and many more events will be taking place throughout the year.
Caroline’s brothers and her husband’s sisters are involved in the Trust.
“The treatment Caroline has had in Ireland over the years has been amazing,
? her brother Richard told Northside People. We have been based at St Vincent’s Hospital Private and the team there have been absolutely superb.
“However, because Caroline has such a rare cancer, the level of drugs and therapy can only go so far and this avenue has been exhausted.
“To give Caroline the best possible chance of survival, we had no other choice but to pursue treatment in America.
“Caroline has to go to the States once every two months or sometimes once a month, hence the reason why we had to set up the Trust to fund the huge expense involved.
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Caroline received treatment in America as recently as two weeks ago, and Richard said she has become a beacon for people who have a rare cancer, especially young people.
“She is a role model,
? he added.
“We are getting people who have been diagnosed with a rare cancer that want to speak to her to hear her story.
“I really feel for the families who have a loved one that has been diagnosed with a rare cancer and we know what they are going through.
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Help is now urgently needed to raise funds for Caroline as she continues her brave battle, and donations can be accepted through www.caringforcaroline.org.
You can also follow us them on Facebook: Caring For Caroline
or Twitter: @Caring4Caro line