DONAL WALSH is 16 and
at 12 was diagnosed
with a tumour on his leg. As part of a longer
interview in which he talks of facing up to terminal,
here he speaks of the part his faith in God has played.
with a tumour on his leg. As part of a longer
interview in which he talks of facing up to terminal,
here he speaks of the part his faith in God has played.
CLIMBING GOD’S MOUNTAINS
I live in a part of the world that is surrounded by
mountains. I can't turn my head without finding a bloody hill or mountain and I
suppose those were God's plans for me. To have me grow up around mountains and
grow climbing a few too. And that's exactly what I've done, I may have grown up
in body around them but I've fully grown and matured in mind climbing his
mountains.
He's had me fight cancer three times, face countless deaths
and losses in my life, he's had my childhood dreams taken off me but at the end
of the day, he's made me a man.
I am always called brave, heroic, kind, genuine, honourable
and so many other kind compliments, but I have to try and explain to everyone
why I seem to reject them. I have never fought for anyone but myself, therefore
I cannot be brave or heroic, I've only been kind because my religion has taught
me so.
What impact could I ever make on the world if I was fake or
how could I ever be honourable if I was not honoured to be here.
I am me. There is no other way of putting it, little old
Donal Walsh from Tralee, one body, one mind with a few other cobwebs and tales
thrown in.
I've climbed God's mountains, faced many struggles for my
life and dealt with so much loss. And as much as I'd love to go around to every
fool on this planet and open their eyes to the mountains that surround them in
life, I can't. But maybe if I shout from mine they'll pay attention.
If I start to accept these compliments, I'm afraid of what
I'll become. Will I be braver than YE? Will I be kinder than YE? More genuine
than YE? Or more honourable than YE? Better than YE? No. I can never accept
that there is a YE. We are all the same, we are all given one body, one mind.
The only difference for me is that I'm looking from the mountain.
Donal Walsh
