AN INSPIRATIONAL teen left paralysed from a fall last August is feeling hopeful about the future as she prepares to resume rehabilitation in Dún Laoghaire this morning following the Christmas holidays.
Ciara O’Brien from Kinsale returned to Dublin last night after spending the last few weeks at home to celebrate Christmas with her family.
Ciara O’Brien.
Picture: Denis Scannell
The 18-year-old said she has been forced to grow up fast as a result of her experiences. Nonetheless, her strength and determination shone through just over four months after the accident.
“I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now that wasn’t there before,” she said, expressing gratitude for support shown by friends and family.
Well-known figures across the country have been demonstrating their support for Ciara, including Karl Henry of Operation Transformation fame and Northern Irish adventurer Mark Pollock who was paralysed after a fall.
Her mother Pauline said: “Karl got chatting to Ciara while visiting another patient in the hospital and he asked if she was a fan of the hospital food.
“He told her that he would return to visit. We were really taken aback and grateful when he came back a few days later with fresh food and salads.
“Mark Pollock also emailed us, asking if there was anything he could do to help.”
Carrigaline man Nathan Kirwan, who suffered a broken neck as a result of a fall in 2013, has also pledged his support to Ciara. “Nathan had read my story so decided to come and visit me in Cork University Hospital. I also bumped into him in Dún Laoghaire where he went for treatment.”
Ciara has made a number of friends since entering Dun Laoghaire, including survivors of last Summer’s Berkeley balcony collapse tragedy Aoife Beary and Clodagh Cogley who have since been discharged.
Ciara added: “My old school have been absolutely amazing, especially the principal. They organised a fundraising walk for me last October and it was great to see them having so much fun in the process on Snapchat.
“I had a huge bouquet of flowers from the café Nine in Kinsale delivered to Dún Laoghaire. They were beautiful and it meant so much to get them.
“I wasn’t too homesick during the first few weeks in Dún Laoghaire because my aunt lived nearby and she was always there to visit me.”
She revealed how the experience has changed her outlook on life.
“I’m wiser now because at the age of just 18 I’ve already seen so much. Things that used to get me angry before now just pass me by. I was happy with my Leaving Cert results but exams seem so much less important now than they did before.
“I’m looking forward to getting back to Dún Laoghaire as boredom sets in when you have so much time on your hands. However, I’m also really looking forward to getting home for good so I can properly settle back into my old life. In a way being in Dun Laoghaire is like being in limbo.“
The teen has been benefiting from counselling at the hospital.
“I’m really just taking things one day at a time so when I’m talking about something to a counsellor, I’ll discuss whatever has happened that day rather than focusing on the past or future. All the activity in Dún Laoghaire means that I have little time to reflect and dwell on things. However, that’s all going to change when I get back so I’ll definitely be keeping up the counselling when I’m back in Kinsale.
“I’m unsure about what I want to do in college in September but I was never really sure what I wanted to study to begin with. My favourite subjects in school were probably business and home economics but I’m hoping to undertake a nail technician course just for the time being.”