In June 2023, we found ourselves crossing paths with the medical team of the Mater Hospital where Liam was admitted following a road traffic accident 7 days earlier.
By the time he had arrived in the Mater, Liam was also being treated for a brain injury, the extent of which was still unknown. As well as this he had undergone emergency lifesaving surgery at St. Luke’s in Kilkenny and had still not regained consciousness at this point. As well as dealing with the severity of Liam’s injuries, our 13-year-old son Billy was fatally injured in the accident.
From the outset at the Mater Hospital, the Multi-Disciplinary Team, made it clear that they were there, not just for Liam’s injuries but also to support us in coming to terms with the severity and trauma of Liam’s injuries and the grief of loosing Billy.
Once admitted to the Mater, the medical team got to work immediately. Liam underwent a full medical assessment in an effort to ascertain the extent of a spinal injury he had sustained. He had two fractures in his lumbar vertebrae, L2 and L3. The width of no more than three strands of hair saved Liam’s spine. The spinal surgery went ahead within 24 hours of his admission.
As well as the spinal injury, Liam also had a brain injury, the extent of which could not be diagnosed until he had regained consciousness. The expectation of him regaining consciousness carried the weight of worry as we didn’t know what, if anything he would remember of the accident. We would have to break the news of Billy’s passing to him.
This is where we relied very heavily on the expertise of the team at the Mater and the timing of breaking that news. This was reviewed on a daily basis. Liam was conscious for a couple of days before he was deemed medically fit to receive the devastating news. During those days, a wonderful team of experts comprising of O.T, Physio’s, Nurses, Psychologists, just to name a few, were ever present in a combined effort to meet our desire that Liam be strong enough both mentally and physically to play as active role as possible in the decision making of Billy’s funeral and to support our three daughters.
No stone was left unturned to do what was in Liam’s best interests. The empathy that day and the support system was simply off the scale. A chance encounter on the corridors of St. Peter’s Ward with the hospital Chaplin Fr. Damien led to him playing a vital part on that day. The staff came to me after I broke the news to Liam and asked if I had plans made for the rest of the evening because they didn’t want me driving home to Kilkenny after such an emotional conversation. It was down to that level of empathy for our situation and our story that helped us carry this tragedy.
In order to facilitate Liam joining remotely for Billy’s funeral, he was moved to another wing of the hospital on the day, because the nursing staff on duty were concerned that the WiFi was too unstable on his ward. In addition to Liam’s sister and family friend being present, a member of the nursing staff, together with the Chaplin stayed with him at all times once again going over and above in their level of care. To facilitate this for Liam was instrumental in his recovery both physically and emotionally.
It’s been a long slow road to recovery which continues to be ongoing. However, were it not for the amazing care, empathy and expertise of the medical team at the Mater, this could be a very different story. We would like to thank each and every staff member from the security at the main door to the operating surgeon Dr Sinnott and everyone in between who had a kind word, a smile and a prayer. You will never know the positive impact you had on us at our lowest point and please know you will always be part of our story. The irony is not lost on the fact that the man who had to re-learn to walk again can now give something back by being part of this event and run a Half-Marathon in your honour.
To celebrate Liam’s recovery and the exceptional care he and my family received while at the Mater, we will be taking part in the Aer Arann Islands Half Marathon on Inis Mór this April.
Since the accident, Liam has fallen back in love with the Irish language. His other goal while on the Aran Islands is to sit and speak the cúpla focail with the locals!
-Jo, Co Kilkenny
Support Jo and Liam this April as they run on Inis Mór for the Aer Arann Islands Half Marathon. Taking place 10th-12th April, the half marathon is raising vital funds to provide life-saving equipment and support services in the Mater Hospital that will allow our doctors and nurses to provide the very best care to patients when they need it most.