'No cure': Matilda's star reveals mother's shock cancer diagnosis

Star Matildas and Arsenal Football Club midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross has revealed the news no daughter ever wants to hear.In a heartbreaking post shared to Instagram, Cooney-Cross announced her "amazing mum" Jess has been diagnosed with stage 4 Cholangiocarcinoma.The rare and aggressive form of bile duct cancer, according to the footballer, is sadly not curable in its later stages."A few days ago, our world changed forever," Cooney-Cross wrote in the lengthy and heartfelt post."My mum is my hero, my best friend, my everything and the person who has shaped every part of who I am," she continued.The star footballer posted a series of images of herself and her family, all gathered around her mother's hospital bed."She is the reason I am where I am today, her strength, love, and belief in me has carried me through everything."READ MORE: Amanda Seyfried candidly discusses her private health battleREAD MORE: Star denies 'toxic' mum group included A-listersREAD MORE: Mandy Moore's telling comments as 'toxic' friend group drama explodesCooney-Cross revealed that she has since flown home from the UK to Australia to be with her family as they "navigate what comes next"."We are all still in shock and learning how to sit with the weight of this news."The 23-year-old put club duties on pause at her Women's Super League (WSL) team in North London, opting to miss this weekend's match against Manchester United to be with her mother and sisters.The announcement was met with an outpouring of love from both Arsenal and Matildas teammates, as well as from players across the wider Super League competition.For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.Many fellow footballers left hearts on the post, with Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, and Caitlin Foord notably among those to express their support.Meanwhile Arsenal forward Beth Mead, whose own mother passed away in 2023 following a battle with ovarian cancer, commented "we are all with you and your family".Cooney-Cross has since shared an appeal for crowdfunding via a community platform, hoping to "ease some of the pressure on my mum and [my stepfather] during this time".Cooney-Cross was due to begin the second half of the WSL season upon receiving the devastating news.It is not yet known if she will return for the remainder of the season.Cooney-Cross has previously discussed her relationship with her mother, describing her as "the best mum in the world".FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.