Undoubtedly one of the best sources of good vibrations Greystones has to offer, Valerie Murray is a big part of the town. Even if she is quite small.
And right about here is where we would normally do a little potted history, add a little background colour, but, for the month of November, we’ve decided to concentrate on that wonderful book, We Turned Tears Into Laughter: Strangers Linked By A Diagnosis, put together by the Greystones Right2Write Group, and featuring stories from those whose lives have been deeply affected by cancer.
Each week of this month, we’ll feature one of the brave, inspiring writers from the book, and instead of the usual potted history, we’ll give you the opening few paragraphs from their particular contribution. To whet your appetite.
So, unfortunately, we have no time here to tell you about Valerie’s years as a topless go-go dancer in Scunthorpe, or her work as an international drug lord in Ibiza throughout the 1990’s, or when she played bass in The Happy Mondays for two years. Instead, here’s the opening page of Niamh’s Fight For Survival, Valerie’s moving chapter in We Turned Tears Into Laughter…
Here I am, all these years later, sitting in the kitchen, with a cup of tea in hand. I love this kitchen, the way the sun fills the room, the kitchen is quiet. Our cat, Fluffy, is enjoying the sun, satisfied after his breakfast. I hear Niamh call “mam”. “I’ll be there in a minute”, I call back. My beautiful Niamh! She has fought many battles in her short life, but she is really a fighter and I am going to tell you why.
I am not one for travelling back in time, but I need to, as I want to tell you all about Niamh; her life, her sister Olivia, her dad Ciaran, and me, her mum, Valerie.
Niamh was born on the 31st July 1994, a small baby, weighing in at 6Ibs, but she was beautiful, a sister to Olivia, who was three and a half years older, and happy all around. I was a stay-at-home mum and devoted all of my time to my girls. Niamh was progressing well, eating and sleeping, reaching all of the milestones in her life. There was a comment at the time that she was a little slower than average, but to me, she seemed fine. Times flies and in no time, Niamh was running around, creating mischief. I remember her running around at Olivia’s sports day in June; she was nearly two years of age. In the following weeks, Niamh’s health started to deteriorate; it was nothing specific. At the beginning, she had become a little cranky with a high colour in her cheeks. But that could have been anything.
One morning upstairs, Niamh was running around as usual and she just fell down, for no apparent reason. I remember that I panicked and brought her to a doctor, and he diagnosed a virus, but she did not improve. I was back and forth to the doctor, feeling helpless. “What is wrong with my baby?” I wondered. Niamh was just two years old and was really unwell. The doctor advised us to get her to hospital. “Pack a bag,” he said, “they will probably keep her in.” But they didn’t keep her in; it was just a virus, they told me. I was advised to give her Calpol, but she was not well and was so pale. I wondered what I was to do. When I told my doctor, he was very surprised. I told him that we were due to travel to the North of Ireland for a family event and wondered if we should go. “Go,” he advised, “it might do you all good.” Thank God we did, because it was the start of a very long journey that would save her life…
To read the rest of Valerie’s incredible story – and many more like it – pick up We Turned Tears Into Laughter at the Greystones Cancer Support HQ on La Touche Place, plus The Village Bookshop, Roche’s Chemist and Doyle’s Butchers. Outside of Greystones, you can also buy Tears at Dubray Books in Bray, Fishers and Ann Duffy Florist in Newtownmountkennedy, and both the Post Office the chemists in Kilcoole. You can also purchase the book on Kindle right here. You can find out more about GSC – including their contact info – here.