The teenager was first diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of four and faced a number of devastating relapses with remarkable courage
Kaitlyn Louise Glackin
Heartbreaking tributes have been paid following the death of a ‘brave young lady’ from Co Donegal who has sadly passed away following a long illness.
Kaitlyn Louise Glackin, 15, from Aughlim in Donegal Town, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday.
Kaitlyn was first diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of four, and in 2020 the brave young girl received a life-saving transplant.
Just 11 months after the operation, Kaitlyn’s family got the devastating news that Kaitlyn had been diagnosed with leukemia for a third time.
Friends and family in Donegal town rallied behind the Glackins in the hope that she she could receive vital treatment in the UK.
Kaitlyn Glackin passed away on Wednesday after a battle with leukaemia(Image: GoFundMe)
Thanks to the generosity of friends, family members and strangers,the young school girl and her family were able to travel to the UK to undergo T-cell therapy.
The therapy consisted of Kaitlyn’s own T-cells being removed, having a drug added to them to make them into an army inside to recognise and kill off leukemia cells inside the youngster’s body.
Kaitlyn faced her illness battle with remarkable courage and her friends and family have been left devastated by her death earlier this week, with tributes pouring in for the brave schoolgirl.
“We are broken hearted for you Aidan and all your family on the sad passing of Kaitlyn, she was such a brave wee girl,” one mourner said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God rest her gentle soul. Brian, Marie, Luke and Daniel.”
Another person added: “Sincere condolences to the Glackin and Kennedy families on the passing of young Kaitlyn. She was a brave young lady who fought hard for her life. May her gentle soul rest in peace.”
A third person said: “Rest in peace Katelyn, a beautiful flower, just lent not given, to bud on earth n bloom in heaven. God comfort all your loved ones.”
While a fourth added: “Condolences to the Glackin family on the death of Kaitlyn after a long illness bravely borne. Heaven has found a lovely angel. Rest in peace Kaitlyn your suffering is over.”
Kaitlyn was a third year student at Abbey Vocational School in Donegal, with school principal Alan Thompson remembering her as “a model student and a lovely young lady who exhibited our school’s core values of care”.
“The students and staff of the Abbey Vocational School are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our valued students, Kaitlyn Glackin after an illness,” Mr Thompson said in a statement.
“Kaitlyn bore her illness with great dignity and courage. Her gentle acceptance of her illness at the end was the acceptance of someone at peace.
Kaitlyn was a third year student at Abbey Vocational School in Donegal
“Kaitlyn was a 3rd year student in our school and a much valued member of our school community. She was a model student and a lovely young lady who exhibited our school’s core values of care, respect and community in all of her daily interactions with her friends and with staff.
“Kaitlyn was very well liked by both students and staff. She was a polite and mannerly student who always cooperated well with her teachers. She was eager to do well and always tried her best. Kaitlyn had a warm and wry sense of humour but was always respectful at all times.
“Kaitlyn’s easy going and good humoured manner will be very much missed by her classmates, friends and all of the staff here at the Abbey Vocational School.”
Mr Thompson has said the school has enacted their Critical Incident Plan in the wake of Kaitlyn’s death and will continue to engage with the appropriate agencies including the National Educational Psychological Services and Donegal ETB to support all students and staff “who have been affected by this sad and challenging time for the school community”.
Mr Thompson added: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Kaitlyn’s parents, her sisters Clodagh and Niamh and brother Tiernan at this sad and difficult time.”
Katelyn’s Funeral Mass was held in St Agatha’s Church in Clar, on Friday afternoon followed by burial in the adjoining graveyard.
Abbey Vocational School was closed on Friday to allow students and staff the opportunity to attend the funeral to pay their respects to Kaitlyn. The school re-opened for an hour after the internment took place to allow students and staff to gather together.
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