A tragic story unfolds as a man from Dublin, Dean Dunphy, succumbs to glioblastoma, a severe form of brain cancer often referred to as an “old man’s disease,” just three days after marrying his wife, Michaela. Despite undergoing multiple treatments, including surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the tumor continued to grow relentlessly. On their wedding night, Dean suffered a seizure and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors advised starting palliative care. His condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to his passing on May 21, shortly after their wedding.
In the midst of her grief and newfound role as a single parent to their four-year-old daughter, Sloane, Michaela aims to establish a foundation in Dean’s honor to support further research into brain cancer treatments. Dean, who had a history of migraines and headaches since childhood, only discovered his condition in June 2023 when he experienced muscle twitching while driving, resembling stroke symptoms. Initially mistaken for Bells palsy, further tests revealed the devastating truth of a brain tumor.
Following open brain surgery on Michaela’s 30th birthday, Dean received the heartbreaking diagnosis of stage 4 glioblastoma. The news left Michaela in shock, as the reality of cancer set in. This tragic loss emphasizes the importance of raising awareness and funding for brain cancer research to prevent similar heartbreak in other families.