Mum’s thanks to ‘angels’ who helped save sick Mary Kate (2)
An Aughrim mother whose young daughter suffered a seizure and fell unconscious in Arklow town has issued a heartfelt thanks to the ‘angels’ who came to her aid.
Jennifer Maher told of the terrifying experience which happened on Holy Thursday when her almost two-year-old daughter Mary-Kate became seriously ill.
‘I was driving through Arklow with the children in the back – Tom (6) and Mary Kate who will be two in July. Mary Kate had been sick earlier and I was going to take her to the doctor that afternoon but Tom called me and said that she didn’t look well. I had to find a space to pull in and went down the first lane I could,’ Jennifer said.
Jennifer turned down Condren’s Lane and quickly went to her daughter who she said was ‘ lifeless’ in the car.
‘I took Mary Kate out and I was screaming for help. I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. A lovely lady called Ruth came out from Sherry Fitzgerald and showed me how to hold Mary Kate in the recovery position and then the staff from Bradley’s Pharmacy came out and ushered us in. The locum pharmacist who was called, Amy and who I can only describe as an angel, steered the ship. She spoke to the emergency services and kept us calm. It was like Mary Kate was in a deep sleep and wouldn’t come round. She was still breathing and I tried to focus on that,’ Jennifer said.
Jennifer wasn’t certain if Mary Kate had suffered a seizure or not, and when the paramedics arrived they said that she might have just been shivering from the sickness.
‘ The paramedics, Stephen and Emma, were wonderful and kept me so calm. They looked after Mary Kate so well and had us in A&E in Tallaght Hospital in no time at all. They said we might have to wait a few hours to be seen but, unfortunately, Mary Kate suffered another seizure when we arrived so she was admitted straight away.’
Mary Kate was kept in hospital overnight and her mum was reassured that the seizures occurred due to dehydration and low blood sugar as she was ill and unable to eat or drink.
‘We were home again on Good Friday and, thankfully, Mary Kate is getting back to normal again. She has her energy back and is in great form. I cannot thank all those people who helped us enough. It was terrifying, and they were so kind and looked after us so well. I can’t speak highly enough of them, including my good friend Angela Daly from Arklow who travelled behind us in the ambulance and stayed with us until my husband Brian arrived,’ said Jennifer.