Letterkenny man teams up with cousin Neven Maguire to thank Beaumont Hospital

A Letterkenny man who spent four months in Beaumont Hospital has said ‘thank you’ by playing his part in a fundraiser that raised €146,500.

Six years ago this month, James Maguire from Illistrin Letterkenny was admitted to Beaumont Hospital with a suspected head injury after having a serious accident in Dublin.

After several brain scans at Beaumont Hospital, it was discovered that James had a bleed and swelling to the left side of his brain and was sent for immediate surgery.

James was put into an induced coma and had a Cranioplasty operation that involved removing part of the skull to allow swelling to reduce naturally. After spending a week in the Intensive Care Unit, James recovered well and was transferred to Adams McConnell Ward for further recovery and rehabilitation.

“I remember weeks after the surgery, one of the surgeons shaking my hand and saying it was one of the fastest recoveries they had ever seen,” James says. “I’ll never forget how amazing the staff were in Beaumont Hospital, without them I would not have had such a positive outcome and I am now six years on, living a normal life. I spent four months in Beaumont Hospital. I will always be grateful to the staff and medical teams at Beaumont Hospital”.

Last year, James along with his parents Kenny and Kate Maguire (nee Dunne), his sisters Hannah and Molly and his two brothers Emmett and Johnny, participated in a fundraising event called ‘The Kitchen of Hope’, to help raise vital funds for Beaumont Hospital. James and his family wanted to do something to give back to Beaumont in appreciation for the care that they gave.

The Kitchen of Hope event involved several celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, including James’s uncle, Neven Maguire. Attendees at the unique event were treated to a feast of celebrity cooking demonstrations led by Neven Maguire, with TV star Gráinne Seoige on hand as master of ceremonies to keep proceedings running smoothly.

Rory Morahan also organised the event as a thank you to the Beaumont Hospital and The Royal Hospital Donnybrook who had helped his son Cathal recover following a serious car crash.

“The event was amazing,” James says. “I got to meet members of Beaumont staff and other patients who had similar experiences to me. My family and I were so grateful to give back to such an amazing cause”.

Beaumont Hospital is The National Neurosurgical Centre for Ireland and accepts referrals from all over Ireland. The Department provides the latest in neurosurgical care, including lifesaving, technically demanding procedures that help adults with complex and serious conditions such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, brain haemorrhage, brain and spinal cord tumour and complex spinal surgeries. Beaumont’s Neurosurgical Teams treat these brain, spine and nervous system conditions using innovative approaches such as awake brain surgery, robotics, computer-assisted brain surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and deep brain stimulation.

Patients are transferred from all four corners of Ireland to be treated for these complex conditions at Beaumont Hospital. James was fortunate enough to be close to Beaumont Hospital on the day of his accident.

James and his family would like to thank everyone for their prayers, help and support throughout that time in their lives. James also would like to thank Rory Morahan, Cathal Morahan, Nevin Maguire, Grainne Seoige and all the other Chefs who helped make the fundraiser a huge success.

Beaumont Hospital, Foundation, PO Box 13643, FREEPOST F3977, Dublin 9, Charity Number: CHY 11538