TRIBUTES have poured in for a 22-year-old Irish woman who passed away just nine months after being diagnosed with cancer.
Laura O’Neill, originally from Dublin, died at the Mater Private Hospital in Cork on Saturday after a number of months undergoing treatment for synovial sarcoma in London.
Following her diagnosis nine months ago, Ms O’Neill immediately received chemotherapy treatment while she waited on a transferal to the British capital.
Two tumours were later found on her bowls, stomach and ovaries and she underwent extensive treatment with a specialist at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea.
Friends and family raised over €29,000 via a GoFundMe page to help with the 22-year-old’s medical costs in London.
Her funeral was held in the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Whitehall, Dublin on Thursday, and her family requested that instead of flowers, donations be made to the Royal Marsden Cancer Society.
Laura’s local football team Baldoyle United left a touching tribute to her on their Facebook page following news of her tragic death.
The club wrote: “It is with great sadness that we learn that Laura O’Neill, niece of our Chairman Dermot, lost her battle with Sarcoma cancer last Saturday night.
“Laura was just 22 years old. She had been attending the Royal Marsden Hospital in London after she had reached the end of treatment offered in Ireland.
“Sadly, after initially responding well to treatment, Laura’s tumours returned very aggressively and Laura passed away on Sat Sept 30th with her Mam at her bedside a mere 9 months after diagnosis.
“… Ar dheis lámh Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.”
Hundreds of people responded with their own tributes to Laura, with one friend writing: “Still in shock cant believe such a beautiful soul taking too soon.
“It was a pleasure to know you and to call you my friend”.
While another said: “Goodbye my gorgeous friend. Thank you for the memories.”
See More: Cancer, Featured, Newslettertop
