Maureen's Story

I would like to sponsor 1 st Oct. in memory of my darling son Darragh. On this date 2003 Darragh died suddenly of SADS in his student accommodation within 30 minutes of speaking with me on the phone. He was just 21 years old.

Darragh was a fit "healthy" sports loving young man with a bright future ahead of him. He was a very loving son and he adored his three younger sisters Orla Ruth and Eleanor. He was very popular and is sadly missed by all who knew him. His winning smile and cheery good humour will stay with us forever. No words can describe the devastation we felt that day.

We will be eternally grateful to Catherine O Donnell (Arrythmia Nurse), Dr Joe Galvin and their colleagues in Heart House who screened our family for conditions that can cause Sudden Cardiac Death. Their sensitivity and support made the experience a lot less difficult than it could have been. Darragh's youngest sister Eleanor was found to have the genetic condition Long QT Syndrome and was fitted with an implantable defibrillator. She is now living a normal life with a normal life-expectancy. She was only 15 when she lost her big brother. She is looking forward to celebrating her own 21 st birthday in a few weeks. Soon she will be older than Darragh who will remain "forever young"

Thanks Mary, Kerry and all the team of the Mater Foundation for giving us the opportunity to have Darragh remembered in such a special way especially as the launch of Special Days happened to coincide with Darragh's fifth anniversary!