‘I’m impressed with our response... I feel I’m in good hands’
COCOONING TEEN MATTHEW GLAD IRELAND IS TAKING THREAT SERIOUSLY
A GOREY teenager, who has been cocooning at home with his family for over three weeks, said he is impressed with the country’s response to the Covid-19 crisis and so feels he is ‘in good hands’.
Matthew McGrath (17) has a life-long medical condition which sees him using a wheelchair and a ventilator, as he is completely paralysed and cannot move his arms or legs.
The transition year student at Gorey Community School said that he’s coping well and keeping busy at home, but being a huge sports fan has brought with it new challenges as he is finding it tough trying to fill the void left by cancelled matches, races and games.
‘I’m watching Sky Sports news as well as movies on Netflix about sport. The movie I’m watching at the moment is about Formula One.
‘I’m talking to my friends from school online, mostly on Snapchat. My teachers are contacting me and they are giving me work and I’m doing the work. My sister and my mum are setting me up work as well, so it’s like home-schooling for now,’ said Matthew.
Matthew completed his Junior Cert in 2019, achieving high grades, and he has a wide circle of friends at school, so he is missing the buzz of school life and seeing his classmates.
But most notably, he is missing Leinster Rugby matches and keeping up with Wexford GAA fixtures, as he is fond of booking on behalf of his parents Cathy and Alan, but Matthew has made time for a new hobby now that he’s at home which might just be a small bit inspired by his interest in Formula One.
‘I’m in a new power chair that I’ve been driving at the moment. I’m getting used to it now so I’m driving around the house and I operate it with my chin,’ he said.
Having his parents, sister, nurses and devices in his life helps to keep Matthew entertained. And while there’s not getting away from the fact that the teen falls into a high-risk group for contracting the Covid-19 virus, Matthew admitted that he doesn’t scare easily.
‘I’m not really concerned about the virus, no. I’m watching the news and getting the updates but so far I’m impressed by how Ireland has responded to the crisis, so I feel I’m in good hands.
‘When I watch the updates, I’m most impressed by Simon Harris. I’m very proud of what he’s doing as he’s doing a good job’.
Although he’s staying calm and keeping his mind occupied, Matthew like every other teenager in Wexford is looking ahead to the future and getting back to normality.
‘As soon as it’s all over I’m going to go to meet my friends and go to sporting events again,’ he said.