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Glasgow Live
National
John-Paul Clark & Kathleen Speirs & John Paul Clark

Glasgow mum terminally ill at Celtic Convention in Las Vegas after cancer shock

A Glasgow mum 'does not have long to live' after falling ill at the Celtic Convention in Las Vegas. Ellen Cassidy was on holiday with friends for 10 days to attend the massive Hoops rally.

The 54-year-old from Springburn started suffering from extreme fatigue and pain near her kidneys around six days into the trip. Celtic superfan Ellen was rushed to nearby Sunrise Hospital and Medical Centre last Thursday.

Medics carried out a scan which found cancer in her gallbladder and she endured an emergency op to remove the organ, reports the Daily Record. But during surgery, doctors found the cancer had already spread to Ellen’s lungs, kidneys and liver.

READ MORE: Hamilton cancer fighter has leg amputated in bid to save her life

Her son Kevin Martin, 32, is now battling against the clock to get to his mum's hospital bedside after receiving a call from doctors who warned Ellen's cancer is advanced.

Kevin said: “My mum had said she was feeling really tired and a bit unwell so she had been taking painkillers on holiday. Before flying out she was in good health and really looking forward to the trip. She’s Celtic daft.

“She phoned to say she was going to hospital so I knew she really wasn’t feeling well. When she called, she could hardly speak she was so breathless.

“Then she told me she was going for surgery, it was a total shock. I just said to her ‘we’ll get you better and get you back home’”.

Ellen Cassidy with her son Kevin (FREE TO USE - UGC MSR)

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Ellen and the doctors soon told Kevin the harrowing truth that his mum did not have long to live, and the cancer had already spread all over her body. The 32-year-old immediately decided he would travel over to see his mum and help comfort her through her final moments but the medical staff at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Southern Nevada are urging him to travel as soon as possible due to Ellen’s declining condition.

But Kevin then received a heart-breaking phone call from a surgeon at the hospital who confirmed his mum’s cancer had already spread. Kevin has been told his mum may never come home and is likely to receive end of life care in the US as her cancer is so aggressive.

He continued: “My mum was too weak to phone me after her surgery. The doctor said during the operation they found the cancer in her liver, lungs and kidneys and it is spreading rapidly.

An online fundraiser has been launched in the wake of Ellen Cassidy falling ill in Las Vegas, Nevada (FREE TO USE - UGC MSR)

“They told me I had to fly to Vegas now to see her. I had to get an emergency passport yesterday for my flight.”

Kevin is due to fly to Las Vegas tomorrow morning but the flight has cost £1600 and he now faces wracking up debt from a hotel stay. His auntie has started a fundraising page in the hope of being able to raise cash for his accommodation.

Visit the GoFundMe page to donate.

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