Some stories in Irish Country Living entertain, others inform and then a story comes along that touches the hearts of readers across the country. Evelyn O’Rourke’s story did just that when we featured her last February.

It was a Monday just like any other in June 2010 when Evelyn found out she was pregnant with her second child. Four days later, her delight was replaced with fear when she discovered she had breast cancer. Now Ross is five years old and, most importantly, perfectly healthy and happy.

“He just stated school last month. It was so funny, the school bag is bigger than he is but he loves it. He is great fun at this age, such a cheeky monkey, and some days I look at him and I can’t believe we went through such a dark time.”

However, Evelyn’s book Dear Ross details just how horrific the journey was having chemotherapy while pregnant. Although it was safe for the baby, as Evelyn said herself: “Nobody wants to be the bald pregnant woman in the chemotherapy ward.”

“I wrote the book to show people that I am an ordinary woman who faced extraordinary circumstances and, although it was ridiculously hard, I survived. This will be the focus of my talk at the Women & Agriculture Conference and if I can help one woman in that room, regardless of her circumstances, it will be worth it. That’s why I tell my story.”

Helping others

Telling her story has already helped so many people but, most specifically, Irish Country Living reader Gillian Roche: “I remember my mother rang me in February saying I had to read Evelyn’s story. I was 21 weeks pregnant, in the throes of chemotherapy for breast cancer and felt all alone. I didn’t think it was possible that someone had gone through the same thing as me. But there it was in black and white, Evelyn’s story.

“I was determined to get in touch but I never used twitter. My friend called and I had to get her to teach me how to send a message. Evelyn got back to me straight away and really did give me hope during a very rough time.

“I looked back on Evelyn’s interview on The Late Late Show and there were the pictures of her, bald and pregnant next to pictures of Ross who was three at the time, perfectly happy and healthy. I remember my husband John saying to me: ‘That’s just like us Gill, they are just like us.’”

Since then, Irish Country Living was delighted to find out that Gillian and John have had a healthy baby boy called Con who is now five months old. Things are certainly busy on their dairy farm in Hackettstown, Co Carlow.

“Con is the youngest of four. So between school runs, homework and John out on the farm, we’re kept going. I’m on my seventh round of chemotherapy but my prognosis looks good. My mindset, determination and outlook are very positive and Evelyn has certainly helped me on that journey.”

Evelyn will be speaking at Irish Country Living’s Women & Agriculture Conference on 29 October in the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co Meath. For more information, visit www.farmersjournal.ie