For those who believe where the health services are concerned that the faraway hills look, and are, greener, the story of John Hayden serves as something of a reality check and in the same process show that the Irish system is far from disentangled.
Resident in Kent in his native England, he had just entered the world of retirement and was anticipating along with his wife, Bridget, relocating to Ireland and specifically Donegal having bought a house in Drumkeen.
It was the summer of 2015 but at the time the move was on the horizon, John, who had been employed in distribution and marketing with the ‘Evenng Standard’, had been feeling unwell.
Initially, he believed he had the symptoms of a very bad cold. “I went to see my GP who, after examining me, prescribed a week’s course of antibiotics for a chest infection,” he related.
Three weeks passed and with still no improvement in his condition, he returned to his doctor only to be given more antibiotics. “This happened on a further two occasions with the same outcome. This occurred over a six month period and just weeks before our move to Ireland.”
On January 26th, 2016, John and his wife arrived in Drumkeen and moved into their new house three days later.
“On that day my daughter and best friend noticed that I was not right and she insisted that I went with her to see her G.P., Dr McDaid in Letterkenny so on the Monday morning I found myself sitting in the doctor’s surgery.”
Within minutes of being examined, John was directed by Dr McDaid to go to Letterkenny Hospital for an X-Ray.
“Later that evening, Dr McDaid called my daughter to tell her that something showed up on the X-Ray which needed further investigation and an appointment had been made for me the next day.
“Having had another X-Ray I was seen by Dr Keating in the cancer department who took a biopsy.”
Within a week, another meeting with Dr Keating disclosed the results.
“Unfortunately the biopsy was cancerous,” John was given the grim news.
As he revealed in a reflection at the ecumenical service during the recent Relay for Life weekend in Letterkenny, an appointment was made for him to see a specialist at St James’ Hospital in Dublin.
“Following consultation and further scans at St James, I was seen by Mr Young who detailed my condition and said the only course of action was to operate and remove either half or all of my lung. It turned out to be the whole lung.”
On March 27th, 2016, John underwent the operation before embarking on a twelve week course of chemotherapy and after care with scans and informative consultation.
“From the six months of seeing my G.P.s in the U.K. with no blood tests, no X-Rays, to being told I might have rheumatoid arthritis, or to the last G.P. testing me for dementia – all incorrect – and then to seeing Dr McDaid who immediately recognised that I had a problem.
“I am now three years in recovery and still receiving the best possible care. I cannot thank Dr McDaid, Dr Keating, Mr Young, the staff at St James and the staff at Letterkenny Hospital enough,” John acknowledged those who had promptly diagnosed his cancer and acted upon it.
And in the process potentially saved his life.
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