Majella O’Donnell has courageously opened up about her battle with breast cancer, revealing how her husband, Daniel O’Donnell, supported her through it, and how she encouraged him to continue touring during her treatment. In 2013, Majella was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she fought through it, finally overcoming the illness in 2016. Now, she has shared more of her experience and her perspective on what happened during that challenging time.
On The Six O’Clock Show, Majella recalled how Daniel initially wanted to cancel his tours when he learned about her diagnosis. She said, “Daniel said when I was diagnosed, I had to have chemotherapy and everything, he said, ‘I’m going to cancel my tours,’ and I said, ‘Oh, god, don’t do that because what good are you to me?’” Instead of wanting Daniel to halt his career, Majella encouraged him to keep working, explaining that she wanted him to stay active for both his and their future.
“I said, ‘You keep touring, but I’ll tell you what, when I am over this, when I have my treatment, then take time out and we’ll do a world cruise,’” Majella explained, adding that once she was better, they would take the time together to enjoy a special trip.
During Majella’s treatment, she relied heavily on her mother, who would care for her by cooking meals and providing comfort while she went through the challenging process of chemotherapy. Despite feeling awful at times, Majella focused on the bigger picture, wanting Daniel to keep touring so that they could make up for lost time after her recovery. This mindset of looking toward the future and finding ways to enjoy life after her cancer battle helped Majella get through some of the darkest moments.
After her recovery, Majella and Daniel fulfilled their promise of taking a world cruise in 2016, marking a celebratory moment in their journey together.
In addition to her candid talk about cancer, Majella also shared a sweet moment about the couple renewing their vows. Majella revealed that she was moved to tears when Daniel surprised her with a vow renewal ceremony. Although Daniel isn’t typically the “romantic” type, Majella shared how he had arranged a beautiful gesture to mark their commitment to each other.
She explained, “A friend of ours is a priest and he came up and he was having dinner with us that night. They actually had Brian McCormack the chef come to do a meal in the house, but it was a Christmas, and the kids were there, and my son was home from Australia, and it was like a treat.” Majella thought the special dinner was the highlight of the evening until the surprise happened. The priest handed her a gift, which turned out to be a note saying they were going to renew their vows that very evening. Overcome with emotion, Majella ran upstairs in tears.
As part of the sweet surprise, Majella revealed that she had a cream dress waiting in her wardrobe, which she hadn’t expected to wear for such an occasion. The vow renewal was a deeply emotional and beautiful moment for the couple, further cementing the strong bond they share.
Majella’s story reflects not just the challenges of battling illness but also the importance of love, support, and the cherished moments of life that come from overcoming adversity together. Through it all, Daniel’s unwavering love and the couple’s shared memories of both tough and happy times stand as a testament to their enduring partnership.