Limerick GAA fan’s determination to live ‘shocks’ hospital staff
“SHE IS pure determined,” Ger, husband to Limerick's Mary Walsh Sexton said of his wife’s chronic illnesses.
Mary from Rockhill, Bruree has been fighting her illnesses for around 15 years and has shocked her family time and time again with her drive to survive but at the end of last year she was told she had Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) which further shocked her family. The only cure is a double lung transplant.
A GoFundMe page has launched for a house adaptation and medical expenses. The goal is to raise €30,000.
Previously, Mary had been cocooning during the Covid-19 pandemic but despite receiving her vaccinations she still contracted the virus and was soon rushed to hospital.
Mary suffered from a connective tissue disease for years before contracting the virus. Following her illness, Mary was put into a medically induced coma shortly after Halloween of 2021.
Mary’s family were called into the ICU in UHL three times as according to Ger it was thought she “wouldn’t make it through the night”.
Yet Mary’s determination and hard-fought drive to live shocked her family and medical staff alike as today, she is alive.
“The scarring is irreversible,” said Ger, who soon may have to leave work to tend full-time to Mary.
“At the moment she’s attending pulmonary physio to help build up her muscles. It’s an eight week programme.
“If she’s going to get an operation where two lungs are going to be replaced, her muscles have to be built up,” he explained.
According to Ger, Mary is a “big big big” Limerick hurling supporter
“She got up for the match [at the weekend],” he said. “She’s seen two All-Ireland’s come home but she’s missed the last two as she was in hospital.
“I want to thank everyone for their support. Everyone has been incredible,” Ger added.
You can go to www.gofundme.com to help Mary, Ger and their family with their housing adaptation to help Mary with her illness.