A courageous Moy woman who raised thousands for cancer charities while bravely battling the disease has sadly lost her fight in hospice care.
Dervla Morris was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2022.
She had attended the Breast Care Unit of the Ulster Hospital, having discovered a lump two weeks previously. Dervla had “very little” family history with cancer and her GP initially thought it was a cyst… so naturally she didn’t feel too concerned going in.
Sadly, the news she never anticipated came. She had a 5cm tumour in her left breast.
It’s an earth-shattering moment that, sadly, many face. She underwent six rounds of chemotherapy, a mastectomy and reconstruction and one week of radiotherapy.
And as gruelling as all of it was, in 2023 – marking one year on from her diagnosis – Dervla summoned the strength to walk a whopping 100 miles across Northern Ireland to the benefit of Cancer Focus NI.
Together, with the help of friends, family and the generosity of her local community, Dervla raised an incredible £3,000, leading the charity to call her a “true inspiration”.
On a JustGiving page set up to collate the funds for her challenge, Dervla expressed the importance of self-checking and acknowledged the very human mindset of not always realising that we are all susceptible.
Said Dervla: “I’m embarrassed to admit that I never checked my breasts before diagnosis. I know I should have, but I was the epitome of ‘it will never happen to me.’”
“It’s not something any of us enjoys, but the earlier you get diagnosed, the better your chances are,” she continued.
Today, upon learning of her sad death Dervla’s words were never more poignant.
Those who had the fortune of knowing her have been left truly heartbroken.
She has been described as “such an elegant, beautiful, and intelligent lady”, who had barrels of humour to boot!
Those paying tribute have promised to keep her sorrowing family and friends in their thoughts.
A death notice described her as the beloved mother of Anna and cherished daughter of Ciarán and Joan, devoted sister to Ciara, Niall and Gráinne.
A Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday at St John Church, Moy for 11.00am with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.
Donations in lieu if desired, for Marie Curie Hospice Belfast, c/o donation box in home, any family member.
