Roseanna Ruane has made a special request ahead of her daughter Saoírse’s 13th birthday on Sunday, January 19.
Saoírse passed away in March 2024 at the age of 12 after being diagnosed with an Osteosarcoma tumour, a rare type of cancer, when she was seven.
Her family has been sharing updates on their grief and ahead of the milestone weekend, Roseanna posted a video from "happier times" of her two daughters playing at Silver Strand beach.
Roseanna wrote: "It’s been a difficult couple of days for various reasons, ones we’ll explain later as we’re not out the other side yet. As we approach Saoírse’s 13th birthday on Sunday emotions are heightened even more.
"Thinking about her not being here in her rightful place to blow out her candles is too much at times.
"So I I ask that on Sunday you light a little candle for her on her birthday and say a little prayer and thank her for all the good she has done in her 12 short years and ask her to watch over Mamma, Dadda, Farrah Rose, Willow, and all our family.
"And when you blow out your candle, make a little wish for yourself, something you really want. Life is short, make every day count."
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Roseanna also reflected on how during the family’s trip to Silver Strand beach in Donegal three years ago, they had no idea about what their family would face in the coming months.
"Little did we know what lay ahead that year. A diagnosis of a tumour on her lung which involved major surgery, a resection and reconstruction. Only we know the exact detail of what she went through, the scars that were to become a result of extremely difficult battle wounds," she wrote.
Roseanna continued: "And then to be followed by a relapse a year later and a conversation no one ever wants to be part of, being told there isn’t much more anyone can do."
Explaining how they knew "statistically and from consultations" that they "would be very lucky to keep" Saoírse, she compared the period to playing a game of chess.
"But chess was the cancer. We sat on one side of the board and cancer sat the other and we were always waiting anticipating its next move. We spent nearly 5yrs waiting and watching life unfold in slow motion."
Reminiscing on their family holiday, Roseanna penned: "But the girls were none the wiser here which is so special. They laughed, skipped, made sand castles and most importantly we made memories. I’m so grateful for that."
We’ll all be thinking of the Ruanes this Sunday and lighting a candle for Saoírse.
*This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.
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