LAURA CROSSAN

JONATHAN CROSSAN, 41, a joiner from Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, is married to teacher Sinead, 38, and they have four children — Laura, 11, who was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in 2015, Dylan, 16, Cody, eight, and six-year-old Georgia. Jonathan says: ‘IN THE middle of Laura’s treatment, just before her amputation, we went to Daisy Lodge for the first time. It was a fantastic place for us — it saved our marriage. Myself and Sinead were always a very solid couple. We’ve been together since she was 17 and I was 20. But by Jesus having a child going through cancer treatment tested us. We both dealt with the stress in different ways and that caused rows.

By the time we went to Daisy Lodge we were having an awful row. I thought we were really split at that stage, I had to beg her to come with us. Daisy Lodge is so peaceful, it got myself and Sinead away from everything. The only time we could sort out problems is if we were left alone.

We came home different because we got those couple of nights to ourselves. We sorted a lot of stuff out, we made it our business to get counselling. It made us realise that we still loved each other very much and that we needed help.

Nobody realises what it does to a couple when you have a child sick. Since she was diagnosed at the age of nine after we noticed a lump on her leg, Laura had 15 chemos, 30 radiations, all the different tests and biopsies. Still we knew after all that, the leg would have to come off regardless.

I promised Laura that when she was finished her treatment, we would have a party. We renewed our vows last August and there were 180 people at it. Laura was the bridesmaid, Dylan was the best man. Laura is flying now. She has a prosthetic leg, but she doesn’t let that stop her doing anything. She’s away camping at a local campsite this week and they’re swimming in the lake. She’s a brilliant child and we are so grateful to still have her.’