Aussie actress and former Home & Away star Alea O’Shea, has undergone surgery during the fight of her life against brain cancer, after she thought it was just a pinched nerve.
Late last year, in November, Alea announced that she was diagnosed with brain cancer in a video posted to her social media, saying: “This is a video I thought I would never have to make, but I have been recently diagnosed with brain cancer.”
Alea, who is a former Home & Away star, played Darcy Callahan between 2011 and 2017, revealed that she first started to notice symptoms a few weeks before the announcement of her diagnosis and makes it clear that she chose to be as open and honest as she can be. “As I want to live my life as normally as possible while I’m fighting this,” she said.
“About six weeks ago, I noticed that my smile was a little uneven, and it felt harder to talk, like getting my words out. I had a few migraines, but nothing scary,” she said. “Then, whilst recently in LA, I lost feeling in two of my fingers, which then crept into my wrist and then my toe.”
Alea thought that she just had a pinched nerve and went to visit her physiotherapist, whom she could not “be more grateful for.” “He immediately realised it was beyond his scope and sent me to get a brain scan,” she said. “And that’s how we found it.”
Alea went on to say that if there’s one thing viewers can take away from this video, it’s to advocate for yourself: “When something feels off, even slightly, pay attention to it and find the right professionals who will take it seriously.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up for Alea to ease the pressure on finances
After much persuasion, Alea finally gave her friends permission to set up a GoFundMe page to help ease the financial pressure of medical treatments and expenses.
“Over the past months, Alea has been bravely facing brain cancer and the many treatments that come with it,” her friend and organiser Lauren Newton shared on the page. “Last week, she underwent another surgery as part of her ongoing fight. While her courage has never wavered, the journey has been incredibly challenging for both Alea and her family.”
“Like many families navigating serious illness, they have discovered that a number of essential cancer treatments, therapy and procedures are not covered by private health insurance, creating a significant and ongoing financial burden. Despite this, her family have continued to focus all their energy on supporting Alea and helping her access the care she needs.”
The fundraiser hopes to raise $90,000 and has already reached $86,109 from 639 donations in just 5 days.
Alea doesn’t let her diagnosis stop her from creating magic
Alea’s friend Lauren revealed that, even while facing her own battle, Alea has remained committed to raising awareness and supporting other women going through the fight of their lives.
In the midst of her diagnosis, and after beginning to lose hair on the left side of her head, Alea created “Because I Ceare,” — an initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds to provide high-quality wigs to women across Australia facing cancer.
“Her generosity and selflessness in the midst of such a difficult time have touched and inspired so many of us.”
Want to CHATTR with us? Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more entertainment news.
