Banteer woman’s effort to aid lifesavers in neurosurgical unit
“SARAH’S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, HER COMMUNITY AND HER WATERPOWER COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN A HUGE SUPPORT TO HER”
A BIG-hearted Banteer woman whose life has been saved by Beaumont Hospital’s neurosurgical unit has organised a fundraiser as her effort to give something back to those who came to her rescue.
Sarah Weathers will be holding a table quiz in the White Country Inn in Banteer this Friday to give her community, which has been very supportive up to now, the opportunity to show their support for the Beaumont Hospital unit and its lifesaving work.
She has already raised more than €2,000 on her GoFundMe page and here she gives an account of what the hospital means to her and why she would love to give something back to them.
“I have been a patient of this hospital for over the past two years as I was diagnosed with a rare disorder back in 2017.
“It causes benign tumours to grow on your central nervous system – your brain and spinal chord.
“In 2017 I had brain surgery to partially remove one of my brain tumours and in 2019 I had a shunt inserted to drain fluid from the brain. In September I spent a very scary three-week stay in Beaumont hospital fighting for my life.
“Really and truly I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the amazing staff and my wonderful team of doctors in Beaumont Hospital.
“Please give anything you can – it would be really very much appreciated,” she said, pointing to the the fundraising page at https://www.gofundme. com/f/neurologist-section-beaumont
When she was originally diagnosed in April 2017, Sarah began treatment right in the middle of her Leaving Certificate studies and was awarded the Student of the Year title at Coláiste Treasa in Kanturk where she studied.
She went to University of Limerick where she enrolled as a Business Studies student.
Last August she began to feel unwell again and when her mother, Mary, consulted the specialist she had to get an MRI scan and spent three weeks gravely ill in Beaumont Hospital.
As her mother explained, as she recovered, she had to defer her return to UL and was disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to resume her studies as she had planned. However, she had a summer job at the pioneering Kanturk company, Waterpower, and the company’s founder and managing director, Dan Twomey, said he would keep her on during her year out from UL.
“They really mind her there,” said Mary. “She has a great group of cousins and friends who have been really supportive.
“They never left her behind and rallied around her – if they were going to Killarney or Mallow, they would call to see would she come along.
“Sarah’s a trooper, she’s the strongest and most amazing young woman that I know, she’s been offered all sorts of counselling but has never felt the need of the service as she would class her cousins and friends as her counsellors.”
Her family and extended family members have been there for her throughout this journey and their support has meant the world to Sarah.
Mary also paid tribute to the local community in Banteer who have really been of great support to Sarah and the family.
She couldn’t thank Beaumont NeurosurgicalUnitenoughforwhat they did for her daughter. “This is Sarah doing a small bit in return – this is Sarah’s way to give back”.
“She came up with the idea herself and contacted the hospital and they’re delighted and have sent balloons and t-shirts and the likes.”
Sarah and family would like to thank the donors and sponsors thus far for their amazingly kind support of this event.