Kildare mother - 'My daughter was diagnosed with brain cancer at three years old'

A Kildare mother has spoken out and encouraged people to support the Irish Cancer Society's Christmas Appeal after the charity supported her during her daughter's three battles with cancer.

Donations to the Christmas Appeal will provide financial support for families affected by childhood cancer, Night Nursing care, counselling, therapeutic camps, in-hospital support, creative art therapies and more. 

Kildare woman Michelle Kelly's daughter Sophia Conway (now aged 11) was diagnosed with cancer three times. Her first diagnosis of brain cancer was when she was three-years-old. The young girl then had two cancer recurrences, one in 2019 and another in 2020, and successfully finished treatment for her third diagnosis in 2021. The Irish Cancer Society's supports were a lifeline for Michelle and her family as they navigated Sophia's diagnoses.

Michelle said: “My daughter Sophia was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was only three-years-old. The support that the Irish Cancer Society provided helped us through this extremely difficult time. My partner Martin and I had to give up our jobs to care for Sophia, but the bills and expenses don’t just go away.

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"The Irish Cancer Society’s Children’s Fund helped ease the financial burden and the cost a cancer diagnosis places on a family. After Sophia was given the all-clear, the Society’s art therapy and therapeutic camps helped us process the emotional side of what we had gone through. None of the support services provided would be possible without the generosity of the Irish public. This Christmas, I encourage you to give what you can to support families like mine, when they need it most.” 

Fair City star Kiara Noonan is also calling on the Irish public to support the Irish Cancer Society’s Children’s Christmas Appeal. 

The mum-of-four’s son Oscar (9) was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2023 after developing lumps behind his ears and feeling extremely fatigued. 

Since then, Oscar has been receiving chemotherapy treatment which he hopes to complete in May 2026. 

Kiara Noonan said: “Nobody thinks childhood cancer will knock on their door, but sadly it can, and it does. Thankfully, this Christmas will be Oscar’s last while in cancer treatment. When your child is diagnosed with cancer, it puts everything in perspective. All the stresses of Christmas – buying gifts, decorating the tree, Christmas dinner – none of it seems to matter anymore. Having your child healthy and happy becomes your only focus. I urge anyone who can, to please donate to the Irish Cancer Society’s Christmas Appeal. Your support this Christmas can be a lifeline for families like mine who have been affected by childhood cancer.’’ 

Edel Shovlin, Irish Cancer Society Acting CEO said: "Every year in Ireland, around 190 children and around 70 teenagers are diagnosed with cancer. It’s a diagnosis that turns a family’s world upside down. By supporting our Children’s Christmas Appeal, you will be providing financial support for families affected by childhood cancer, therapeutic camps, counselling, in-hospital support, creative arts therapies, and so much more.

"We typically receive only 5% of our funding from Government, meaning the rest comes from individuals and organisations who generously donate to the Irish Cancer Society. We want to be there for every child who needs us this Christmas and to do that, we need your support.”  

The public can support families dealing with childhood cancer this Christmas HERE.