Majella OíDonnell tells Mary OíDonnell about her fight with cancer
When Majella O’Donnell was diagnosed with breast cancer last July, she had no idea that the life-changing experience would take her along a path that would lead to her raising over half-a-million euro for cancer and touching so many lives by sharing her story.
She laughs as she says that she used to be introduced as ‘the wife of Daniel O’Donnell’, but is now introduced as ‘the woman who got her head shaved on television’.
Majella’s appearance on The Late Late Show to have her hair shaved off came about following an inspired thought that came into her head one night “like a bolt of light”.
She explained: “It just came to me that I should do this; that I have a voice because of Daniel’s status and that not many people have the opportunity to go on television like this. It was such a strong, clear thought and I believe now that I was invited by God to go on that show.”
She had thought that it would just be a small segment of the programme and that it would maybe help to raise around €50,000 for the Irish Cancer Society, so when this figure was greatly exceeded, with €600,000 raised within three weeks, Majella said she realised why she had been guided to go on television to share such a personal experience in such a public way.
With many people then becoming aware of what she was going through, the 54-year-old, from Thurles, in Co. Tipperary, began receiving loads of letters from people, including Daniel’s fans, telling her that they were praying for her.
Since this, Majella, who underwent a double mastectomy in February, has been asked to speak at many different events, one of the latest being the ‘Little Way Novena’, in honour of St Therese of Liseux, in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, when she spoke about the role of prayer in her time of illness to a large congregation.
She has also received many letters thanking her for talking about her experience with cancer and depression, from which she has suffered for many years.
Depression
Describing depression as “a terrible place” to be, Majella said that she takes regular medication for it and “has been doing good for a long time now”, adding that she has to be aware of dark days and be sure that they do not take hold of her.
Experiencing great loneliness when she is in the “dark hole” of depression, Majella said that she prays a lot to God when this happens.
Saying that she had a personal relationship with God, she added: “I am not talking about traditional prayers, but just talking to God and asking Him to help me get out of the hole as quick as I can.”
Deeply appreciative of the opportunity she has been given to help others through sharing her experience with cancer and depression, Majella said: “If any one benefits from anything I have to say, I will be very happy.
“We are all here together to live this life and people have been absolutely wonderful to me on my journey.”
When Majella was diagnosed with cancer she said that she didn’t think about praying for it to be taken away, nor did she ask: “Why me?”
Thinking of it as her cross to carry, she remarked: “I believe that we are all on a path and I feel that I have to walk that path in as dignified way as I can.
“The prayer of other people has helped me along this path, and if the cancer returns in the future, I will accept it as another path that I have to walk, and I will walk it.”
Keen to help others on their path, Majella turned up at the Irish Cancer Society’s recent ‘Relay for Life’ in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, to support surprised fellow cancer survivor, Tina Moore when she shaved her head at the fundraising event, having heard her talking about it on local radio.
Regarding depression as a worse illness than cancer, Majella said: “Unfortunately, when you are in the dark hole of depression, people don’t know about it and so they can’t pray for you.”
She added: “You can cut out cancer but depression is so difficult to deal with. It is such a sad and lonely place to be.”
Encouraging people to pray hard for anyone whom they know suffers depression, Majella urged: “Let them know that you are there for them. We all have our crosses and we all need to help each other.
“We shouldn’t judge people who may be having a bad day. Just pray, and keep praying, for them.”