‘I’m doing just fine’: Cork teenager Elsie Hayes celebrates her cancer journey with a Disneyland trip
Elsie Hayes, with her dog Kerry, said that 'everyone at Ballinspittle National School was kind and accommodating, and understood when I wasn't able to do things'. Picture: David Creedon
Elsie Hayes has a more important lesson for her class-mates than any teacher could offer after starting secondary school while in the throes of a cancer battle.
Just weeks into her first year at Kinsale Community School, the 13-year-old is continuing to defy expectations as she prepares for the trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris, with one of Cork’s most beloved charities.
The Kinsale schoolgirl was no stranger to hospitals before her cancer diagnosis last December, having lived with type 1 diabetes all her life.
It was the diabetic team at Cork University Hospital (CUH) that nominated her to join the Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club on their annual holiday. The annual trip acknowledges remarkable kids and teens for their bravery and is made possible by volunteers from doctors to members of An Garda Síochána.
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Elsie’s mum Cora thanked everyone who has supported them since receiving the life-changing news last December.
“What they have given Elsie is a reminder to keep pushing through and find a bit of joy no matter how difficult life gets,” she told the .
“This is so important for kids going through a hard time. We are both humbled and surprised at how kind people are.”
Elsie will make the journey from Cork Airport with the charity on Sunday, October 11, along with 66 other children. It will be a welcome distraction for Elsie following months of medical appointments.
“We got the news that the tumour Elsie had was cancerous during a Zoom call last December," explained Cora.
"We have been so overwhelmed by the kindness of people and charities like the Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club.
"We have always seen the signs for the charity around the place, but it was a member of the diabetics team who personally connected us. They asked if it would be OK to nominate her for the trip, considering everything she had been through.
"We have had huge support from everyone since starting this journey, but the diabetic team has been our backbone since Elsie was 10 months old. Everyone at CUH and Crumlin has done so much for Elsie.”
The hours spent in hospital took their toll on the teenager and her family.
"We were travelling to Dublin so she could endure six days of chemo that lasted 16 hours a day. We just put our faith in the medical team and hoped to be out the other side," Cora said.
"She is doing brilliantly even though things have been very difficult. Elsie lives her life between scans. Her attitude is that she is moving forward and getting on with it. Elsie loves life and loves sport and is taking the time to get back to that fully.
"At the moment, it’s a work in progress. I’m very proud of Elsie. She is a great girl, even though it has been such a huge struggle. It was a very difficult couple of months, but she has pulled through and is doing great.
"She looks fantastic now. Her hair is growing up and you can see what we refer to as the 'chemo curls' coming through.”
Elsie reflected on her diagnosis, which came to light after she experienced what appeared to be an innocuous swelling around the stomach.
What followed was intensive surgery and a grueling course of chemotherapy, which ended in March.
Elsie continues to attend medical appointments but is doing well.
“I don’t think the diagnosis has changed me much because I already had a lot of responsibility dealing with my diabetes,” she told the .
"It was the small things that meant the most to me. Getting all the gifts from my family and friends was lovely. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who said they were going to pray for me.
"My mum has been amazing, even though I feel like she had a much harder time than I did. Everyone did a lot, so it’s hard to distinguish one kind act from another.
"However, the best gift I got was the day I got home after finishing chemotherapy to find my family had thrown me a party. That was really nice.”
Staff at Elsie’s primary school helped her through the tougher days.
“Everyone at Ballinspittle National School was kind and accommodating, and understood when I wasn’t able to do things," Elsie said.
"One of the biggest things for me was wanting to go to school, but being so tired, I couldn’t make it there. My teacher never treated me any differently.
"It’s hard to explain, but my brain never registered that I had cancer, but I knew that this was something that I had to go through. I didn’t look too far into the future and instead took things hour by hour.”
Friends and family were particularly supportive when Elsie made the difficult decision to shave her head during treatment.
“I never actually experienced losing my hair because I dyed and cut it before shaving it all off. I just remember feeling really cold when it was finished," she recalled.
Elsie said the last thing she wants is sympathy: “I have a thing about the pity look because I’ve gotten it so much since my diagnosis. They are thinking that my situation is so sad, but inside I’m wishing they would pity someone else because I’m doing just fine.”
Elsie said the invaluable support provided by her friends during this challenging time has been an immense help.
“I turned 13 in May and had my friends over to celebrate my birthday. We had to finish after an hour because I was so tired, but they all understood," she said.
"Even when eating lunch at school made me sick, my friend offered not to eat either, so it wouldn’t seem so bad. We joked with each other a lot and that helped me through.”
The pair reiterated their gratitude to Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club, who have helped hundreds of kids and teenagers since it was founded in 1994.
John Looney founded the charity after being inspired by his own children — Pamela, Noelle, Clodagh, and Karen — who are now grown up.
Pamela was born with two tumours on her spine and, as a little girl, went on a trip with another organisation. John was determined to set up a charity to make memories for even more Cork kids.
His children are now volunteers with the charity, which also co-ordinates a Christmas day out for kids touched by illness or emotional trauma.
John was publicly recognised for his work after being named Cork Person of the Year for 2015 for his decades of voluntary work and dedication to sick and deserving children.
To find out more about the Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club or donate, visit cchcc.ie/about-us
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