Home and Away actress undergoes surgery amid ongoing battle
Australian actress Alea O’Shea had surgery last year amid an “ongoing battle” with brain cancer after signs such as a crooked smile led to her receiving a critical biopsy on her 25th birthday.
Old Home and Away The actor announced he had been diagnosed with brain cancer in a social media video in November, saying: “This was a video I thought I would never have to make, but I was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.
“About six weeks ago, I noticed my smile was a little uneven and I was finding it difficult to talk.[ting] My words came out. I had a few migraines but nothing scary.
“Then recently, when I was in Los Angeles, I lost sensation in two of my fingers, and it went into my wrist and then into my toe.”
O’Shea suspected his ailments were caused by nerve compression and visited his physiotherapist. “He quickly realized this was beyond his scope and sent me to get a brain scan,” O’Shea said. “And that’s how we found it.
“If there’s one thing I want people to take away from this video, it’s [to] Stand up for yourself when things feel even a little strange.”
In an update dedicated to him GoFundMe page The organizer of the fundraiser revealed that O’Shea, who has raised more than $80,000, had surgery last week and his family wanted access to basic treatments not covered by private health insurance.
“Alea is an extraordinary young woman whose strength, kindness, and determination continue to inspire everyone around her,” the GoFundMe said.
“Over the past months, Alea has bravely faced brain cancer and the many treatments that come with it. Last week, she underwent another surgery as part of her ongoing fight.
“Like many families struggling with serious illness, they discovered that a number of essential cancer treatments, therapies and procedures were not covered by private health insurance, creating a significant and ongoing financial burden.”
O’Shea played Darcy Callahan in Seven’s Home and Away Soap series between 2011-2017.
Through his social media channels, O’Shea shared his journey of being injured on his left side, which could lead to complete left paralysis, and gradually losing his hair, with an optimistic and cheerful perspective.
She also started a crowdfunding business to gift high-quality wigs to women with cancer.
In his November video, O’Shea said that although the location of his brain cancer means he can no longer ignore people or give a thumbs up, it won’t affect his personality.
“So I’ll still be just as funny and have the ability to speak,” he said.
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