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New York benefit for brave Irish boy suffering from cancer

11-year-old Niall Heraty fights cancer

By
APRIL DREW,
Irish Voice Reporter

Published Friday, September 25, 2009, 12:09 PM
Updated Friday, September 25, 2009, 12:36 PM

 

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Niall Heraty

Niall Heraty is just like every other 11-year-old. He adores the Yankees, he plays a mean game of basketball, and he loves more than anything to wind his older brother, Conor, and his younger brother, Ryan, up. 

However, Niall, son of Julie and Vinny Heraty, natives of Westport, Co. Mayo, hasn’t had the time or energy to enjoy such activities since March. Niall has a rare cancerous tumor and is currently undergoing rigorous treatment to rid his young body of the disease.

Niall, a sixth grader, was in the middle of an intense game of basketball with his friends in February when he fell to the ground. A shooting pain in his back caused him to grab his back and drop to his knees on the basketball court in pain.

Niall, who lives in Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County, with his family, was sent immediately for scans. An MRI revealed a mass on his lower back, which was followed by biopsy, which reveled a cancerous tumor.

Niall’s father, Vinny, 44, told the Irish Voice over breakfast last week that doctors informed the family their son has a cancerous tumor that isn’t very common.

 “We were just shocked. We really didn’t expect this,” said Heraty, a custodian with the Board of Education in the Bronx.

After diagnosis, Niall’s treatments began immediately.

“As soon as the tests were completed and Niall was diagnosed he began chemo to shrink the tumor,” explains Heraty.

Niall has been undergoing months of chemotherapy and radiation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

“The treatments are tough on Niall but he is so strong. He never once complains, which has made our life and trying to deal with all of this much easier,” smiles Heraty gently.

“Niall has a strong and positive outlook. You couldn’t ask for a better lad.”  

Niall found it difficult to lose his hair during the treatments and was most upset when he couldn’t go to school. 

 “That was hard on him. He likes school and wanted to be there. At least now his hair has grown back, and last week he had his first hair cut since the treatment so he is delighted,” said Heraty.

While trying to cope with the endless hours of treatments, Niall, said his father, focuses all his attention on sport.

“He is very big into sport. He misses playing an awful lot. But he still follows baseball. He has gone to a lot of games. If you said anything wrong against the Yankees, he wouldn’t be too happy,” laughs Heraty.

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