Ballerin mum and son to 'give back' after battles with serious illnesses

Back in April 2024, Gemma Faulkner was given the devastating news that she had bowel cancer.

Prior to the Grade 1 diagnosis, the mum-of-two knew herself that something wasn’t right.

She noticed slight bowel changes and immediately contacted her doctor.

At the time, the Ballerin woman had been following the late journalist Dame Deborah James’ story and her battle with bowel cancer, which she sadly succumbed to in 2022.

“Dame Deborah James used to say that if there was a change in your bowels or your poo habits then don’t be afraid to talk about it.  I always say she saved my life,” said Gemma. 

“I had bowel changes, they were slight, but I knew something was up.  Early detection saved me and that’s why I always tell people if you have diarrhoea and it continues and is not a bug, get it seen to because that’s what mine was like.” 

Following her own diagnosis, Gemma decided to keep the news to herself until a few days before she was due to undergo surgery in August 2024.  It was then that she confided in her husband Gerard and daughter Keeley.  Gemma decided not to tell her son Conan at the time as she didn’t want to worry him.

“I was actually lucky as it was Grade 1 and I didn’t need any treatment,” Gemma said. 

“I went on to have the surgery and the outcome was good.”

Despite hitting a few bumps on the road along the way, Gemma’s surgery was deemed a success and she went on to have an enjoyable Christmas with her family.

However, what the County Antrim native didn’t know was that in the weeks ahead her life was about to be turned upside down again.

Her son Conan was working in Dublin at the time however he had returned home on January 9 2025 as he was due to head off on a skiing holiday later that day.

“I was getting him ready to head off and I was out as usual with the holy water and stuff and to wish him all the best.  He left with bad snow at that time to head off to get an overnight sailing and then he was heading onto France to meet up with some friends and to go skiing,” explained Gemma.  

“At about three o’clock I decided to give him a wee ring to see if he had got down to the boat ok.  He was in a bad area so his signal wasn’t great.  I was up in Maghera then and at around 4 o’clock, I got a phone call from my daughter who said people had been trying to get in touch because some woman had found Conan in his jeep with his head on the steering wheel.

“It turned out that he had stopped outside the B&B he had been staying in while working in Lusk as he wanted to get his suitcase.  He says he remembered getting into the jeep and starting it but remembered nothing after that.  

“It was a seizure he had taken and his head had fallen on to the steering wheel and the horn.  There happened to be a lady out walking at the time and she discovered him.  She was a nurse from Beaumont Hospital where Conan was later taken to.”  

Doctors initially thought that the then 26 year-old had suffered a stroke however he was later diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma brain tumour. 

ABOVE: Conan pictured in hospital with his sister Keeley by his side.

“Conan had no headaches or no signs that anything was wrong with him.   He just complained of feeling tired one night a couple of weeks before that but we put it down to it being Christmas time.  It all happened so quick,” Gemma said.

“My father died with a brain tumour at the age of 45 when I was only a child and when I heard Conan had a brain tumour, I was devastated.

“Conan was very lucky that he didn’t drive on ahead down that day or go on the boat because he could have taken the seizure while he was on the boat.”

Under the care of leading Neurosurgeon Professor Donnacha O'Brien, Conan underwent an awake seven hour Craniotomy on January 29 2025.

ABOVE: Conan underwent major surgery in Dublin.

While recovery has been long and tough, things are looking good for Conan and he’s now looking forward to getting his driving licence back as he is seizure free.
Gemma has also been given the all clear.

“Between the two of us it’s been a tough 18 months but it was tougher for me watching Conan - he’s my child and when sickness comes into the house it’s just unreal,” Gemma said.

“We are both doing well now and are here to tell the tale and that’s the main thing.”

As a way of giving back to those who helped them during those tough days, Gemma and Conan have decided to run a fundraising event in aid of two chosen charities - Bowel Cancer UK and the Neuroscience Appeal at Beaumont Hospital.

ABOVE: Gemma and Conan.

Bowel Cancer UK fund and support research into new treatments and cures, campaign to improve early diagnosis and access to treatment, and provide expert information and support for those affected by the disease.

Meanwhile, the neuroscience appeal at Beaumont Hospital is a fundraising campaign by the Beaumont Hospital Foundation for the National Neurosurgical Centre for Ireland.  The goal of the appeal is to raise funds to support and expand this life-saving centre, which is Ireland's leading hub for complex neurosurgical care. 

The charity night will be held in the Bushtown Hotel, Coleraine on Saturday, February 14 from 8.30pm.

On the night there will be music by popular band Bitz N Pieces followed by a disco.  An auction and raffle will also take place during the evening and light refreshments will be provided.

“Hopefully there will be a good turnout and I hope people will come along and support it as it is for two very worthy causes,” added Gemma.

Tickets will be available from local businesses and pay at the door is also available on the night.

Donations can also be made via crowdfunder.co.uk/p/fundraiser-for-bowel-cancer-research-and-the-neuroscience-appeal-at-beaumont-hospital