Imagine the elation that comes with being told your wife is expecting twins. What an amazing experience this new life is, new beginnings, new additions to the family. Imagine then, five months later, sitting in front of a doctor being told to get your affairs in order.

“Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do” were the words that stuck with Declan Ferguson. He had just been diagnosed with Stage 4 abdominal cancer. Declan’s story would melt the hardest of hearts. The young man from Lavey in Co Cavan has been on an emotional roller coaster over the past six months, travelling to the USA for cancer treatment and missing out on the birth of his twins. It’s been especially tough on the young family, that includes wife Louise, two-year-old son Dara and newborn twins Lauren and Declan.

Declan's wife with their three children.

“I just couldn’t take no for an answer. With my wife heavily pregnant with our twins, accepting this wasn’t really a viable option for me. I had watched my mother die from cancer, progressively getting weaker, and this wasn’t something I could envisage putting my wife and young family through.”

A second opinion was sought from the Mayo Clinic in the USA. Following assessment, Declan was accepted onto a cancer treatment trial where he commenced an aggressive chemotherapy regime in early April with a view to shrinking the tumour before surgery. Just five weeks ago on 26 June Declan had a full body scan and his doctors confirmed the tumour had shrunk enough to carry out surgery.

Cost

The surgery will cost $250,000 and fundraising commenced in early July. Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Loreto Ferguson, Declan’s sister, said the family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received from the local area.

Initially, a local committee made up of a small group of people was established and now meetings take place every Monday night. More and more people are turning up to see if there is anything they can do to help raise the money that Declan desperately needs to continue his treatment.

Everything from cake sales to spinathons to bucket collections to tractor runs have taken place over the past three weeks. A GoFundMe page that was set up has raised €130,000 in 26 days. Over 200 vehicles took part in a tractor run organised by local men Brian Brady and Michael Sheridan. “Declan is one of our own and we need to look after our own,” says Michael. Tractors, cars and motorbikes from surrounding counties took part, with over €6,000 raised for Declan’s fund.

“We just can’t thank people enough, our community has been amazing and we are so lucky to live among such helpful people here in Lavey. We just hope and pray that Declan’s operation will go well and everything will be a success”

You can watch the highlights of the monster Lavey tractor run here:

Here’s how you can help declan & his family

Anybody wishing to donate to Declan’s fund can do so on https://ie.gofundme.com/save-declans-life or Bank Account No: 86792319

Sort Code: 903445.