Friends rally for Bernie

IN A cruel irony, Bernard McCue looks healthier than a lot of people his age and his family seems happier than many but the McCues have been dealt a hand that no one would want even to contemplate.

Eighteen months ago Bernard McCue, now 29, suffered pancreatitis. Twelve months later with ongoing pain, investigations showed Mr McCue had a 16cm tumour on his liver which is believed to be related to hepatitis B he contracted during surgery as a child growing up in Papua New Guinea.

Further scans showed the cancer had spread to Mr McCue’s lungs. Doctors have given Mr McCue 7-12 months to live.

While the Albion Park family; Mr McCue, wife Leah, and children Jordan 4, Anissa 21 months and Tristan 9 months admit to “why us?’’ days the family instead has chosen to focus its energy on the here and now.

“It was just disbelief,’’ Mr McCue said. “I feel fit and everyone says the same thing – ‘you look so well’.’’ Mrs McCue said, “Even his doctors say he looks so well on the outside but his films show quite a different story on the inside.

“We have good days and bad days,’’ Mr McCue said. “Sometimes we just spend time alone, by ourselves and other days we’d rather go out and have people around us.’’

“It sounds awful but we feel lucky that Bernard’s not just gone, we know that we have time and we can prepare a little,’’ Mrs McCue said.

It may not be the kind of “unique’’ status you’d wish for but Mr McCue’s young age to have liver cancer has meant that he has attracted the attention of some of the country’s finest medical minds.

“There’s a team of doctors that meet and discuss this type of cancer and Bernard’s cancer and Bernard’s case gets brought up quite often,’’ Mrs McCue said.

“We are confident we are getting the best care.’’

The McCues and Mr McCue’s doctors are concentrating on stopping the cancer in its tracks to buy the family time while the relentless search for a cure and ever-improving treatments continues.

“I think for anyone who goes through cancer, there are so many question marks and you just don’t know what’s going to happen,’’ Mrs McCue said. “So we are trying to control what we can control and live as normal a life as we can.’’

With their young children playing happily around them, Mrs McCue said eldest son Jordan had some knowledge his dad was sick but that they would share information only as the children needed to know.

“Our four-year-old knows his dad is sick, that he has a sore tummy and the doctors are trying to help him,’’ she said. “For now that is all he needs to know. When you’re given 7-12 months and our intention is to try and extend that further, it’s hard to know when is the right time to tell your children,’’ Mrs McCue said

“We are fortunate that we have friends and family that will help us when we get to that.’’

As Mr McCue fights his illness the financial reality of not being able to work and treatment continues.

“It’s one of those things, you just don’t think at 29 you will need life insurance but we have found ourselves in a bit of a pickle but we have support,’’ Mrs McCue said.

Ethan Sinclair one of Mr McCue’s oldest school friends has been at the centre of fundraising efforts for the family.

With the help of the Oak Flats Lions Club, the McCue y appeal has raised $22,000 with a $10,000 kick-along last week from The Allied Group. Other supporters include Portofino, The Coffee Club and Coastwide Fabrications.

On February 13 a fundraising ball will be held at the Portofino Function Centre, Wollongong. Tickets are still available at $100 a head. Phone 0431 424 943. Donations can also be made at LJ Hooker, Albion Park Rail.