Hundreds of schoolkids rock out to AC/DC to support a teacher about to undergo lifesaving brain surgery

Scottish Sun

08-06-2025

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HUNDREDS of pupils supported a teacher about to undergo lifesaving brain surgery by rocking out to AC/DC's Thunderstruck.
Kids sent Julie McCarthy, 51, positive vibes by filming themselves copying her music fan surgeon Roddy O'Kane's pre-op ritual.
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Julie and Roddy posing with Julie's pupils at Cathedral Primary in Motherwell
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Julie was overjoyed by the children's support
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The mum-of-three says the giant sing-along helped her through
And she reckons the mass singalong did the trick — after waking to learn 95 per cent of her stage four tumour had been removed.
Julie was recently reunited with metalhead Roddy as he visited Cathedral Primary in Motherwell and bonded with guitar-loving kids.
Paying tribute to youngsters' role in her recovery, Julie said: 'When I saw the video, I was overwhelmed. Their energy, their joy. It lifted me.
'I truly felt their love.I believe their prayers and positivity helped carry me through.'
Mum-of-three Julie had suffered a seizure while driving and crashed into a roundabout — awaking to find herself surrounded by paramedics.
She was rushed to Wishaw University Hospital where scans revealed a brain tumour.
While awaiting surgery last April she formed a bond with top neurosurgeon Roddy.
She recalled: 'I immediately felt safe in his care.
'Even though I was receiving devastating news, I felt an odd sense of clarity, like life was giving me a wake-up call.
'I started to feel lucky the tumour had been found and that I had a chance to fight it.'
She told pupils how Roddy liked to listen to rock legends on full blast before entering the operating theatre.
On the day of Julie's surgery, 600 kids gathered to record their special clip.
They turned their assembly hall into a massive moshpit and chanted 'Thunder' in unison, just like at the start of AC/DC's 1990 anthem.
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Julie after the surgery, which removed 95 per cent of the stage 4 cancerous tumour
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Surgeon Roddy has always rocked out to the song to get him in the zone before carrying out surgery on his patients
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Julie with her kids (L-R) Nina, 14, Rory, 18, and Carlina, 18.
Julie loved watching the clip as she recovered at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The kids then repeated the performance when Roddy joined Julie at the primary.
He is a long-term fan of the band who were founded by Glasgow-born Angus Young, 70, and late brother Malcolm.
He revealed: 'When Julie showed me the video of the kids rocking out, I was nearly in tears. Who knows, maybe we've inspired a few future neurosurgeons.'
Julie has now left her post after 25 years. She said: 'This school has been my life. I trained here, my three children went here. I've watched so many pupils grow and thrive.
'I'm deeply thankful to the staff, the children, and my medical team at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and The Beatson.
'Roddy and the entire team were phenomenal.'
Head teacher Graeme Young said: 'The children light up when Julie is around.'