Darren, Shelly, Siobhan and Aidan O’Brien in happier times.
Camera IconDarren, Shelly, Siobhan and Aidan O’Brien in happier times. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Siobhan O’Brien fundraising for National Breast Cancer Foundation in memory of mother Shelly

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

Mrs O’Brien was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012.

“It felt as though our whole world fell apart, we never thought this would happen to us,” Miss O’Brien said.

“Mum, being the strong-willed person, picked herself up, along with us, and started her journey of treatment.

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“She was determined to fight the disease and win.

“After a long and hectic year of treatment, the new year of 2013 started to look much brighter and positive.

“Mum was on the road to recovery and life went back to some form of normal.”

In 2015, Mrs O’Brien’s ill health returned, showing secondary cancer in the lung, and later to spread to the brain, then the liver.

“Again, our world fell apart, but once more mum was incredibly determined to fight, even though the prognosis was 12 to 18 months due to the breast cancer being highly aggressive,” Miss O’Brien said.

“We juggled life to ensure Mum made it to her appointments and treatment, and also making certain she had the support she needed, especially through the long hospital stays.

Mrs O’Brien (46) died in April last year.

“Nearly one year on, we are still finding life hard without her,” Miss O’Brien said.

“There are no combination of words to describe the mixed emotions we feel on a day-to-day basis.”

The Waroona family set up a fundraising page with a $5000 goal for cancer research, treatment and awareness. They will be holding fundraising events in the next 10 months.

Visit https://inmemory.gofundraise.com.au/page/SiobhanOBrien0.