Tractors take to Limerick streets to help woman with life-limiting illness
THE HUM of engines will be booming as a charity tractor run will delight the eyes of onlookers in Limerick.
The vintage and modern tractor run will take place from the GVM Mart in Kilmallock in aid of Mary T Walsh Sexton who has been battling a long-term illness.
Ms Sexton from Rockhill/Bruree contracted Covid-19 in 2021 and soon after went into hospital where both her lungs went into failure and later she developed Pulmonary Fibrosis where tissue in the lungs become damaged.
The family of Ms Sexton have been fundraising for medical expenses and a house adaptation and have so far raised almost €25,000 of their €30,000 goal according to their GoFundMe page.
After five months in University Hospital Limerick, Mary was moved to St Camillus’ Hospital.
It was here she had to re-learn all her motor skills such as walking, talking, and sitting up.
“With the care and support from all the staff in both hospitals and mam’s stubbornness, she made it home at the end of June 2022,” Aisling said.
Despite the severity of her condition she “shocked absolutely everyone including the doctors with the phenomenal progress she had made” according to Ms Sexton’s daughter Aisling on their GoFundMe page.
Ms Sexton’s husband Ger called her “pure determined” in her drive to survive.
“There is a lot of interest in the tractor drive now in fairness,” Ger said.
There is no cure, or treatment for Pulmonary Fibrosis other than a double-lung transplant in Dublin which is a long and lengthy process, leaving Ms Sexton on oxygen supplies for 24/7 a day.
“We don't know if she will be lucky enough to get a lung transplant as there is a long process involved before she gets to that point, but we are praying and hoping she will,” Aisling said.
According to Ger, Mary’s condition is so-so.
“We have to try and get her on the list for the lungs and it’s quite tough in fairness now.”
Mary has recently started new medication to try and stop the scarring in her lungs from spreading.
The tractor run will take place at 12pm this Sunday, August 20 with registration beginning at 10.30am at the GVM Mart.
Dyno testing (checking the rotational speed and torque of an engine) will also take place on the same day beginning at 2.30pm.
Pre booking for the dyno testing is required and can be done so via social media or by contacting Darragh at 083 417 6699.