Catherine’s memory lives on with fundraiser
Dundalk resident Treasa Rushe Carroll will be walking 14 kms on what should have been her daughter’s second birthday on Sunday June 14 to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House at Crumlin’s Children’s House.
The 28-year-old and her husband Stephen Carroll stayed in the Ronald McDonald House when their baby daughter was transferred to the Dublin hospital after being born at 24 weeks. Sadly their ‘feisty little warrior’ didn’t survive and now Treasa wants to raise money to help the Ronald McDonald House which is facing a huge shortfall in funds due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Treasa, who is originally from Termonfeckin and now lives in McSwiney Street, is herself lucky to be alive as she had severe pre-eclampsia and suffered a stroke. ‘I died and they took me back,’ she says. ‘ They did an emergency C-section and I was resuscitated.’
As Treasa was being wheeled into theatre, she told her husband to name their daughter Catherine Desi as both their grandmothers were called Catherine and Stephen’s great grandfather and her grandfather were called Dessie.
Although she only weighed 1lb 8oz, Catherine was ‘a perfectly healthy baby’ recalls Treasa, who remained in ICU at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, while her daughter was transferred to the special neo-natal unit at The Coome Maternity Hospital in Dublin.
‘I didn’t seen her until she was ten days old, she continues. Catherine was subsequently transferred to Crumlin Children’s Hospital after developing N.E.C, a serious illness which affects premature babies.
Treasa and Stephen stayed in the Ronald McDonald house in the hospital grounds, spending precious time with their daughter and making memories which will last a lifetime.
When Catherine was just nine weeks old they were told to say goodbye to their daughter and she died in Stephen’s arms on August 17 2018.
‘We had a day with her, we washed her and held her. It was the most contact we had with her since her birth.’
The heartbroken couple organised a funeral for their daughter and then held a party to celebrate her short life. They cherish their memories and photos of their time with her.
‘We have our good days and bad days. We talk about her constantly,’ says Treasa, who now wants to help other parents whose children are in Crumlin Hospital.
‘It was thanks to the Ronald McDonald House that we were able to spend so much time with our daughter and made so many good memories.’
‘I realised last week that the Ronald McDonald House Charities Ireland are facing a huge shortfall of €500,000 because they can’t fund raise due to COVID-19.’ She has decided to walk 14km through Dundalk on her daughter’s second birthday, Sunday June 14.
Since announcing her plan she has already raised over €2,000 on Facebook and GoFundMe pages.