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Patrick’s Story

3:38 pm by

I stayed at Inis Aoibhinn for 3 and a half weeks while I was having Radiotherapy treatment. I’m from Glenties, Co Donegal and I really didn’t like the idea of staying in a B&B while getting treatment so I was very pleased when I heard that I had a place at Inis Aoibhinn.

I was made feel welcome from the moment I arrived. The staff are wonderful, kind and caring, and always take the time to see how you are doing. One of the greatest things about Inis Aoibhinn is that everyone staying here is in the same boat and that experience brings people together.

I’ve really enjoyed myself here, particularly the mid-week music nights which are legendary – in fact my GP told me before I came to Inis Aoibhinn to make sure that I brought my accordion with me! I know I will miss the banter with the staff and other residents when I leave and am very grateful to Cancer Care West for their support in making a difficult time much easier.

Mardette’s Story

3:24 pm by

My diagnosis of breast cancer came out of the blue. I was lucky as it was caught very early, but that didn’t diminish the shock of hearing I had cancer. I had surgery followed by radiotherapy treatment in Galway, a 2.5 hour drive from my home in Boyle, Roscommon, and realised very quickly that I would have to make my health and recovery my priority.

I have met people who travelled to Galway for their daily radiotherapy treatment and I knew I would have found this very difficult, particularly in winter time, and so was hugely relieved to hear that I had a place to stay at Inis Aoibhinn. If it wasn’t for Inis Aoibhinn I would have stayed in a bed and breakfast for the 6 weeks of my treatment which would have caused additional stress and financial strain.

The first day I arrived at Inis Aoibhinn I experienced the lovely openness and welcome that everyone gives here. At Inis Aoibhinn people are kind and understanding, no-one intrudes but yet you know they are there for you. I feel very safe here. There is great flexibility at Inis Aoibhinn – I would come back after my treatment, make a cup of tea and have a rest when I needed it. At different times during my treatment, my mother and my friend stayed with me for a few days and they were made to feel very welcome as well. At the Cancer Support Centre up the road I have taken part in an art class, I’ve had reflexology and aromatherapy treatments – all free of charge.

You are very fragile with a cancer diagnosis and at the beginning it is very hard to process that you have cancer. Inis Aoibhinn provides the nurturing environment that is needed; it has definitely been part of my healing just to be here.

Marie’s Story

3:24 pm by

Cancer stops you in your tracks and makes you take time out to think about your whole life. Before I got cancer I had never had a day’s sickness and I think the night before I got my results was the worst night of my life.

I had heard about Inis Aoibhinn before my stay, but I was completely unprepared for the wonderful kindness and warmth that I experienced from the moment I first walked through the door. At Inis Aoibhinn people have time, the staff have time to talk to you; the people staying here have time to support each other, and as a patient, you can take the time for yourself that is needed to recover. It was a huge support for my husband and children to see me so happy at Inis Aoibhinn and helped them not to worry when I was away from home.

I feel that I have learned so much from my cancer experience. I am more positive, I embrace each day and I have no fear about saying the word cancer anymore. It has made me appreciate that life can change at any time and that I have no control over a lot of what happens anyway.

There are really no words to describe Inis Aoibhinn and no amount of money that could ever pay for the kindness and caring that I received there.

Philip’s Story

3:16 pm by

It was minus 4 degrees outside on the morning of my wife Mary’s first Radiotherapy treatment. We got up at 5am to be on time for Mary’s 9am appointment and to allow for the 2.5 hour trip from Ballina to Galway. When Mary was first diagnosed at Mayo General Hospital we thought that we would travel to Galway every day, but after speaking to others from Mayo who had had Radiotherapy treatment in Galway we asked to stay at Inis Aoibhinn.

Inis Aoibhinn is an amazing place, I cannot praise it enough. You can do your own thing and know that the nurses are there for you if you need them. The food is fantastic and the staff are amazing – you wouldn’t find a hotel as good as this! Everyone staying here is in a similar position and there is always someone to talk to. It is wonderful that I have been able to stay at Inis Aoibhinn with Mary during her treatment, and for our family at home it has been a huge relief to know that Mary is being so well cared for. We are very grateful to everyone at Cancer Care West for supporting us so well.

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Inis Aoibhinn

091 545 000

[email protected]

Galway Cancer Support Center

091 540 040

[email protected]

Charity Registered Number : 20030438
CHY Number : 11260

Donegal Cancer Support Center

074 960 1901

[email protected]