The family of a Koh Dere man who died of cancer at the age of 20 preserves the amazing legacy he left through a foundation in his honor.
His father, Ewen Henry, who was born in Chile and lived in Agado, described him as “car crazy” and “full of life”.
A Koo Deere man died on May 14, 2017, along with his parents, Steve and Veronica Henry, just 14 months after a gritty battle with neuroendocrinologists.
The NHS describes neuroendocrine glands as a rare tumor that can develop in many different organs of the body. It affects the cells that secrete hormones into the bloodstream (neuroendocrine cells).
His father told Maidiri that his son was “really brave” in battling a “terrible disease”.
Steve described how Ewen went to the doctors in September 2015 with pain in her lower abdomen, but only a year later was diagnosed with cancer.
Since starting treatment for the disease in 2016, Eoine has responded positively to chemotherapy. But after three months of screening, the cancer came back and it was the start of a fierce battle with the rare cancer.
His family established the Eoin Henry Foundation to help families under the financial stress that such a diagnosis would bring.
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In short, they decided to change his life for others: they have so far collected 5,175,000.
Speaking with MyDerr y, Steve said he misses his friend “every day” and that he is “so unique”.
She said, “He was a normal guy who loved life and took it every day.
“He would do anything for me and my mom. He was a likable person and when he was old enough he started working with me.
“He was very brave and strong when it came to fighting the disease. He remained very positive about everything and kept moving forward. He just got to the point where he no longer had to fight and that’s when he died.”
Mr. Henry shared how difficult each past year was, a grief that no parent could overcome.
“May 14, 2017. This is a date I will never forget. It stuck in my mind forever and it has been really hard ever since.
“His mother wouldn’t be able to get over the loss of her son. It was all her. If you’re walking around the house now, every room you enter is a picture of Eoine.
“I handled it like no one should. I came back for a drink and went somewhere fairly dark, but fortunately, for two years now, I haven’t touched a drop.”
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This Saturday, the family will host the annual Eoine Memorial Gala Ball on the Titanic in Belfast.
The event will take place in the Titanic Suite, located on the top floor
The event will feature a selection of supercars from brands such as Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche and Ferrari.
The Foundation has helped several charities in Northern Ireland since its inception in 2017, including Young Lives vs Cancer, Belfast Cancer Centre, Northern Ireland Children’s Home and Angel Wishes.
(Photo: handouts)
“We’ve helped all kinds of cancer-related charities because that’s what keeps us going. The opportunity to help others through a foundation called Eoine is simply amazing.
“It is amazing to see that money is used for valuable purposes that will really help other people who are going to hell.
“So we are looking forward to Saturday’s event. It will be a fantastic and magical event and it will be all for a good cause.
“We love and miss Eoine very much and this is about commemorating his memory.”
If you would like to receive a donation, you can do so here.
Source: Belfastlive
I’m an experienced news author and editor based in New York City. I specialize in covering healthcare news stories for Today Times Live, helping to keep readers informed on the latest developments related to the industry. I have a deep understanding of medical topics, including emerging treatments and drugs, the changing laws that regulate healthcare providers, and other matters that affect public health.
