Kieran’s big boost
FOOTBALLER PLANS TO WED NOW TUMOUR IS REMOVED
SMILING with his family, an FA Vase-winning dad is celebrating the biggest victory of his life.
Talented footballer Kieran Wrightson’s life was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year.
He had an operation to remove the tumour but months later, doctors delivered the devastating news the disease had returned and spread.
The defiant dad-of-one went back under the knife in February to remove a tumour from his stomach.
After a long and agonising battle, Kieran has now been given the allclear.
The 25-year-old said: “It is a massive relief and a huge weight off the shoulders of me and the family.
“I was by myself when I read the letter and I didn’t know what to do. I called my partner and she was crying.
“Then I told my mam and dad. Everyone got wind of it and my phone hasn’t stopped with people wishing me congratulations.
“There’s no more treatment and no more hospital. I only have to go back for monthly check-ups. Life can now get back to normal.”
Plasterer Kieran was part of the North Shields FC side which won at the 2015 FA Vase at Wembley, coming on in extra time as they beat Glossop North End 2-1.
But his world came crashing down in April last year after he found a lump in one of his testicles.
An operation to remove the tumour was successful and the 25-year-old got back to playing football, only for the cancer to return.
During a six-hour operation, surgeons at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital had to remove his stomach and bowels before installing an artificial artery and removing the cancer.
It left Kieran, from Walker, Newcastle, with a 12-inch scar on his abdomen and it could be a year before he is back on a football field.
On Saturday, Kieran was given the good news by doctors that the second operation was a success.
Now, Kieran, who has a two-yearold daughter, Ada, said he can look forward to marrying fiancée Carly Auld in July.
Former Newcastle United schoolboy Kieran, who played alongside Paul Dummett and Andy Carroll, said his old club had been in touch and he’d received a letter from Rafa Benitez. “He said the club were thinking of me and if I needed anything to get in touch,” said Kieran.