Alison home after cancer treatment

After thirty rounds of Proton Therapy treatment, Bailieborough native Alison Fisher has returned home and retained her positive outlook on her diagnosis.

Alison gleefully reported that she felt “good” when The Anglo-Celt called on Monday.

Having spent six weeks including the Christmas period in Germany, Alison was thrilled to be back in her hometown, where support continues to flood in.

She was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, just after she finished her third year of primary school teaching at Marino College. She collapsed while waiting for a bus in Mullingar and took three seizures before reaching hospital. She later underwent surgery in Dublin’s Beaumont and was transferred to Essen University Hospital, which has more suitable equipment

A GoFundMe page, set up by Harris’ SuperValu owner Lorraine Harris, smashed its initial €45,000 goal in just two days, and now sits on just over €86,000. The fundraiser was set up to help with travel and aftercare expenses.

Alison began her treatment in mid-November last year and finished on December 28. The treatment, which lasted for around three minutes each day, was carried out from Monday to Friday for six weeks.

“All the staff were so nice, they made you feel so welcome, it was just really, really lovely,” she said.

As the weeks wore on, especially after the two-week mark, Alison noticed “it would take a bit more out” of her.

“I would just get a little bit more tired,” she said. “We were literally just at the apartment, then going back to the clinic, then back home. We weren’t really doing much but I’d sleep for a good 12 hours.”

She found “not being in the comfort of your own home” difficult. “It was a very different Christmas, and I don’t think it’s one me and Mammy would like to relive again.”

The student teacher was determined to look on the positive side, and sustained this mindset during her treatment. She found she really enjoyed the walk to and from the hospital, she enjoyed the atmosphere of the Essen Christmas markets and had her heart set on the day she could go home.

“Every cloud has a silver lining. I feel like, if you just look at the negatives, you’re just going to be consumed in negativity.

“I was like look, you just have to make the most out of a bad situation. At least we’re exploring a new city. We knew, if there were no complications during the treatment, that we should be home between Christmas and New Year, and we were.”

Flying into Dublin airport, still decorated with Christmas trees, lights and baubles, Alison “burst into tears” when she saw her cousins waiting for her.

“The welcome we had; it was really, really lovely.

“They were crying and we were crying,” she described.

Alison’s next appointment will be in Beaumont next month where they will run more tests, however for now, the 21 year old is enjoying being home.

“We’ve been home for two weeks but it feels like we’ve been home forever, it seems like Germany is a distant memory.”

During her time there, the Kilann Choral Society held a carol service and collection for Alison. Watching the concert was an emotional time for both women, especially her mother who is involved in singing locally.

“It just meant the world to me and Mam,” she said, expressing her sincere thanks to everyone who donated to the fundraiser and sent messages of support.

“Even though it was just the two of us over there, it felt like we were so supported by everyone. It was really nice to feel so supported.

“There were so many uncertainties and it was great just to know financially there wasn’t that uncertainty.”