More than €92,000 — roughly 157,000 Australian dollars — has now been raised to help bring a seriously ill Monaghan man back to Ireland, after his life was turned upside down by a devastating diagnosis.
Jonathan Duffy, who has been living in Australia, is battling stage four terminal brain cancer and wants nothing more than to spend whatever time he has left at home.
Life in Australia Suddenly Comes to a Halt
Jonathan’s health has declined rapidly in recent months.
Once independent, he has now lost movement in his right arm and the use of his right eye.
He is relying on multiple medications just to get through each day.
Two months ago, his brother flew from Ireland to Australia to care for him full-time, stepping in as Jonathan’s condition worsened.
A Scan That Changed Everything Again
As if the initial diagnosis wasn’t enough, a recent MRI scan delivered more heartbreaking news.
Doctors confirmed that the cancer has now spread to the other side of Jonathan’s brain, narrowing his options and reinforcing the reality that his illness is terminal.
For his family, the focus shifted immediately from treatment to comfort — and to home.
One Final Wish: To Be Back in Ireland
Jonathan’s family is determined to bring him back to Ireland so he can spend his final weeks or months surrounded by the people and places he loves.
But getting him home has proven far more complicated than expected.
Due to his medical condition, the airline has refused to allow him to travel unless he is accompanied by a medical assistant, significantly increasing the cost of the journey.
A Fundraiser That Took on a Life of Its Own
To cover the expenses — including flights, medication, and palliative care — friends set up a GoFundMe campaign with an initial target of $20,000.
The response was overwhelming. Donations poured in from people who know Jonathan, people who don’t, and strangers moved by his story.
The fundraiser has now smashed past expectations, raising more than $157,000.
Friends Step In When It Matters Most
In a message shared on the GoFundMe page, a close friend explained the situation in simple, emotional terms.
They described Jonathan’s diagnosis, his loss of mobility, the care being provided by his brother, and the difficult decision to bring him home.
The appeal made it clear that this wasn’t about luxury — it was about dignity, comfort, and being with family at the end.
What Happens Now?
With funds continuing to come in, Jonathan’s family is working to arrange the complex logistics of his return to Ireland, including medical support for the flight and care once he arrives.
For now, the focus remains on one thing: getting him home safely, where he can spend his remaining time surrounded by love rather than hospital walls.
Those who wish to support the fundraiser can still do so via the GoFundMe page, as Jonathan’s journey — and his family’s — continues.
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