Niamh Crosby with her family.jpg

Dad organises bike run in daughter's memory

 

'We all love her so much, and she loved us too'

 

“I sat down beside her on the bed and she said to me 'daddy, I want to do as much as possible before I go'. I said her, 'listen pet no problem at all, whatever you want',” a heartbroken father of young Cavan woman who died from Ovarian cancer has recalled the brave and determined attitude adopted by his daughter when faced with only months to live.

In Niamh Crosby's memory, dad Peter has organised a 55 mile Honda run this coming weekend, Sunday March 18. Along with funds a family comfort room at Dublin's St James' Hospital, Peter hopes the event will help raise awareness of a potentially life-threatening condition which he describes as a “silent killer” unless detected in the early stages.

Supported by Kangley’s 32 County Honda Challenge Club and starting 12 noon, registration takes place at Enagh House on the main road between Bailieborough and Virginia from 10am, with entry €20. Refreshments are provided beforehand by Trisha's Cafe in Bailieborough, and Enagh House afterwards. All bikes welcome.

Apprentice hairdresser Niamh (24) from Bailieborough died March 18, 2016. The bike run poignantly coincides with a date her loving dad says will “forever be burned” into his heart.

“They did so much for us, so much for Niamh, from the time she was diagnosed all the way throughout her illness. The doctors, the nurses, everyone, it means so much to us,” Peter tells The Anglo-Celt.

Life, Peter explains, changed for his vibrant and devoted daughter mid-2014, when a biopsy arising from an otherwise routine appendix operation, first highlighted concern. Further medical tests found Niamh had developed Ovarian cancer. She was given just 18-months to live.

From the initial dedicated care of Dr Tom D'Arcy at the Coombe, Niamh was transferred to St James' Hospital under Dr Noreen Gleeson, while more localised treatment was managed by Dr Paddy Halligan in Bailieborough.

“The wee woman, from the day she was diagnosed to the day she passed, she never complained, not once,” says Peter, clearing a lump in his throat. “She adored her mother, they were like sisters, not mother and daughter. She adored me too. We all love her so much.”

Such was her open and passionate nature, Peter says Niamh left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone she met.

Medical staff fawned on Niamh, through good times and bad. Similarly, at home in Cavan, her family while attempting to contain their own emotions when dealing with the inevitable tragedy of the situation, managed to keep the “bright side out.”

One of three siblings to Peter and Anna-Mai, brother to Ciaran with whom she was very close, and doting big sister to Sarah Jane, who has down syndrome.

While Sarah-Jane knows her Niamh is now “keeping her granny and grandad company in heaven”, the loss of “such a great character, sorely missed about the house” remains a point of great sadness for all the family. “It bottles us all up, how do you explain something like that,” says Peter, who says on the Thursday after Niamh died she had been due to present as bridesmaid at her brother's wedding. “She held on as best she could but she just wasn't able to make it.”

In the remaining months Niamh was told she had to live, Peter proudly tells the Celt she “lived life to the fullest.

From a trip on the river Shannon to clay-pigeon shooting and quad biking, to learning how to drive in a new car bought by Peter to caring for a new bijon frise dog, also bought by Peter, to even becoming engaged herself to long-term partner, Anthony.

“I'll never understand why God took away my opportunity to walk that wee girl down the aisle. It's just not fair,” a tearful Peter says.

Niamh also took charge of her own funeral arrangements, assisted by Fr Michael Router. “She said to him 'this is how I want it done',” says Peter.

Niamh ultimately picked her own grave plot, the music during service which was also filled with many stories from family and friends, and she added a playful warning too for the parish priest not to burn the traditional incenses.

“She told him, 'don't go shaking any of that stuff around me. If you do I'll come out and give out to you',” laughs Peter, remembering his Niamh's wit and humour despite such adversity.

Following Niamh's tragic passing, her employer's Hession Hairdressing in Clontarf presented Peter and Anna-Mai with the qualification their daughter would have earned. She had just three-months more study to do to complete. A fundraiser organised by proprietor Paul Hession helped raise €7,000 for cancer care.

The 55 mile route in memory of Niamh is being kept under wraps until the day, with Peter promising plenty of “surprises and good times” along the way.

For more information about the upcoming run contact Peter on 0870910345 or Brendan 087 2258944.