Athlone's Anthony hoping to return to work after brain tumour operation

Almost nine months after undergoing surgery in America on what had been regarded in Ireland as an inoperable brain tumour, Athlone native Anthony Keenan is hoping to soon return to his old job as a postman. It's a remarkable turnaround for the man more commonly known as "Jelly", whose life was turned upside down, in December last, when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. A member of a prominent Athlone family, Keenan (49) enjoyed a long and distinguished League of Ireland football career. He also worked in Elan for a decade and in more recent years has been an instantly-recognisable figure on his rounds in Athlone as a postman. Currently resident in Bealnamulla, with his wife Sinead, Anthony has four children, sons David (27) and Andrew (24) and daughters Cara (7) and Sarah (3). Having heard of cases where successful surgery was carried out in America on similar tumours, Anthony and family contacted the world-renowned Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. Anthony underwent surgery on January 2 last and the immediate diagnosis was positive with doctors reporting the operation had been successful in removing the tumour. Nonetheless, the last nine months have been an emotional rollercoaster for Anthony, his family and friends as he underwent a gruelling series of post-operative treatments, including 30 days of radiotherapy and six weeks of chemotherapy under the care of doctors and staff at University Hospital Galway and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe. Following his first brain scan in March last, there were fears that the tumour may have returned, but, thankfully, that proved not to be the case, and in recent weeks, he has received the all clear. Since he was taken off steroids five weeks ago, Anthony has been steadily returning to normal and is now hoping to return to work as a postman in the coming months. "I'm feeling absolutely brilliant," he told the Westmeath Independent this week. Now that he is looking to the future with renewed anticipation, Anthony and his wife Sinead took time this week to publicly express their heart-felt thanks to all who offered their prayers and support. In addition to their thanks to the doctors and nurses in Galway and Ballinasloe, they also paid tribute to the skill and dedication of the staff of the Duke University Medical Center who have remained in contact with Anthony and family over the intervening months. "They were in constant communication with us as to how he was progressing," Sinead told the Westmeath Independent this week. In the last couple of weeks, Anthony received the good news from his doctors he had been waiting for since last December. He is now awaiting written approval before returning to work. And when he is back on his postal rounds, you can be sure he'll never again complain about the early morning starts as a postman.