Newsletter 2013

Irish Sudden Infant Death Association
Newsletter
Autumn 2013
WHAT’S
INSIDE
Family Weekend
information
Saturday 9th &
Sunday 10th
November
Full details inside
Fundraising Photos
The Little Children’s Centre
in Fettercairn raising
awareness and funds for
ISIDA
ISIDA Charity Golf Day
Photos of a great day had
by all in Carlow
Barrow Walk 2013
Photos of this year’s
particpants including
Helen Carroll, the new
ambassador of the ISIDA
Get Ahead
Michael Philips, before
and after!
Ruby’s Ball
Photos from this
year’s ball
Hell and Back Challenge
Braving the mud!
Anyone for tea?
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and funds for ISIDA.
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of Sudden Infant
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Thinking of holding your own fundraising
event?
ISIDA
information offers support an
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Thanks for your support!
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Please get in touch and we can send you one of our
fundraising packs.
We’d be delighted to include details of your event
in our next newsletter and print some of the
photos of the day afterwards.
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isida.ie
Registered
The association greatly appreciates all monies raised. Monies raised goes
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Charity No.
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Foreword from
the Chairman
Dear Parent\Supporter,
Since the last newsletter, the Association continues to carry out its
good work despite challenging times, funding cuts, etc. Since the Irish
Sudden Infant Death Association Limited became a corporate entity
in 1985, many things have changed. Because of this and bearing in
mind that our organisation now looks after families of children who
have died up to and including the age of 12, we sought the assistance
of Feargal Jennings, Marketing Consultant of Keep Thinking Marketing
Services. We are greatly indebted to Feargal for the time he took in
examining the services provided by our organisation, which included
interviewing parents and council members. After a considerable
amount of time and effort, a new trading\brand name and identity
has been proposed for the company. Feargal will attend at the family
week-end in Athlone and on the 10th November will formally introduce
his proposed new trading name\identity and the reasoning behind
it. Our hope is that the new name will portray our organisation more
accurately and with an upbeat positive dynamic.
As usual, enormous thanks goes to all the staff of the organisation
both in the bereavement and register services and also to all our
volunteers who freely give of their time and especially those involved
in all the fundraising activities held throughout the year. Without
fundraising, our organisation (especially given the cutbacks imposed
on us by the HSE) would not be able to continue to provide the high
level of professional service which bereaved families deserve.
Wishing you all the very best for the next 12 months.
Kevin O’Meara
Chairman.
Support
Groups
We currently run the
following Support Groups
around the country:
Limerick
South Court Hotel, Raheen,
Limerick.
Cork
Ennismore Reatreat Centre,
Cork.
Dublin
Beacon Hotel, Sandyford,
Dublin.
Waterford
WHAT centre for Arts & Health
Remembrance
Services
Details of upcoming
Remembrance Services
Cork
Meet the Team
The River Lee Hotel
17th November 2013
1.00 p.m.
Tralee
TBA
Athlone
The Radisson Blu Hotel
Athlone
Co.Westmeath
10th November 2013
1.00 p.m.
Deirdre, Ger and Margaret
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
1
Remembering . . .
The Special child
Darren
The child, yet unborn, spoke with the creator “How will I
survive in the world? I will not be like other children, my
walk may be slower, my speech hard to understand, I
may look different. What is to become of me?
There’s one
missing!
The creator replied to the child “my precious one, have
no fear, I will give you exceptional parents, they will love you because
you are special, not in spite of it. Though your path through life will
ILKPMÄJ\S[`V\YYL^HYK^PSSILNYLH[LY`V\OH]LILLUISLZZLK^P[O
a special ability to LOVE, and those whose lives you touch will be
blessed because you are special”
0[^HZ]LY`KPMÄJ\S[MVYTL
sending my kids back to school.
Instead of preparing six I only
OHK[VWYLWHYLÄ]L
Darren O’Shea Born 17/1/2001 - Died 29/10/2012
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and two grandchildren. I love them all to bits.
Darren my beautiful son passed away on 29th.
October 2012. My beautiful son, full of life, full of
love, full of devilment! Darren had Autism and was
SLHYULKKPZHISLKI\[WO`ZPJHSS`OL^HZÄUL@V\OHK
to keep your eye on him at all times. He loved his
t.v. computer and his D.S. he used to have all three
going at the same time. I could always hear him in the
background 1 or 2 a.m. in the morning.
When he died the silence was eerie. Even though I still
OH]LÄ]LJOPSKYLUH[[OLOVTL^P[OTL[OLYL»ZZ\JOH
lull. My house has never been so quiet, even when the
grandkids come. It’s still too acute.
Darren’s Daddy was visiting the kids last Halloween
for the weekend. He went into get some of Darren’s
<7MVY3PSS`^OV»ZÄ]L¶ZOL»ZT``V\UNLZ[7H\S
(Darren’s Dad) noticed he had died. The shock ripped
through my house and family and small community.
Darren’s death was caused by sudden, unexplained
death in Epilepsy. He was jumping around the room
so full of life, and on his laptop till 11.30 p.m. the night
before he died. The ache in my heart is so huge; I love
him and miss him so much. Darren could be quite
demanding but you know what? I would have done
anything for him. I would have gone to any lengths to
make him happy. I love you darling and miss you so
so much.
Love you and miss you so much LOVE LOVE LOVE
Mammy, Amy, Dave, Charlie, Kaylen,
Paul, Leah, Ciara Lorna and Lilly
xxxxxxx
Love you
Darren
Lilly xxxx
Since the morning we found you dead it
has been so hard. I found it really hard
because the night before I saw you jumping
around your room and I shouted goodnight
and went to bed. The next day you were gone. I miss
your loudness; I miss your shouting at 1.00 a.m. I even
miss you cobbing my dolls and ds’s.
Love Leah
2 ISIDA Newsletter
A Poem of love
The sun shines right over your grave
It’s nice to see it so sunny,
but sometimes I miss you a lot
And it is not as fun in the water
without you
Oh Darren I miss you and I love you
It is hard for me to remember that
you are not there beside me to-day
I remember all the things we did
together.
Love you lots, Lorna
Bye bye Ciara
Darren my baby brother, huge blue eyes
and a mass of white-blonde curls. So
feminine and fairy-like! I’d joke about
OV^ÅHTIV`HU[OL^HZHUKOV^0»K
“glam him up” to go shopping when he
was older! Darren was different – he
was special, he had Autism but that
was not his label and it certainly did not
KLÄULOPT/LOHKHMHZJPUH[PVU^P[O
Bratz dolls, fashion and accessories,
anything purple, Ben10, Xbox, Nintendo
DS, Disney’s Cars & sparkly anything.
He loved to smell our perfume, always
charmed the ladies. Unlike a lot of
children with Autism he enjoyed being
hugged and squeezed. We were so
lucky Darren was so affectionate with
us and we were lucky to have known
him. He was very loud, loved reciting TV
shows and phrases. All of the bizarre,
funny, annoying characteristics we miss
even more now he’s not around. Darren
you brought our home to life, myself
and all your siblings, Mam & Dad. We
miss your laugh, your shouting,
and your spirit. Home isn’t home
without you; there isn’t half as
much mischief!
0TPZZ`V\HKTPYPUNT`V\[Ä[Z
trying on my jewellery and smelling
my hair before a night out. I regret that
you were taken from us and I never
took you shopping with me for bling.
I miss bribing you to go to school
and promising to bring you to “Ole
McDonalds” for a burger. You were
beautiful and broke so many hearts
with your charm. It gave me great relief
learning how many friends you had
especially at school – Mr. Popular! They
all miss you terribly. I am privileged to
have been your big sister. I’m proud you
are my brother. You taught me not to
care what people think, to be myself,
you didn’t pass judgement on people
regarding anything. I had my baby girl
on April 1st. A girl, like you suspected
when you rubbed my belly. “It’s Ashley”
you shouted. I wish she could have met
her uncle Darren. I called her Charley
Ashley like the princess Ashley you
often told us stories about. I will tell
her and Kaylen all about you – you will
never be forgotten.
I know you’re watching over us with
Nanny, I hope you’re smiling and at
peace. Everyone’s heartbroken without
you – Mam’s not making pizza, Paul
misses wrestling you, Leah’s not
missing things from her room, Ciara
has no one to boss around when out
playing and Lilly and Lorna have control
of the telly! We always talk about you
– we’ll look after Mam, your best friend
who loves you endlessly. We’ll mind
each other.
Miss you everyday lil’ angel – all the
hugs possible.
Amy
Remembering . . .
Sam
In Sympathy
The soul of my darling Sam,
Was so precious in Gods sight
That early on, Hes called him
To enjoy eternal light.
Of course my heart is broken,
Of course Im feeling sad,
But oh to have my own wee saint,
Must also make me glad
So raise your eyes of Faith
To God who dwells above,
Who loves me as He loves wee Sam
With everlasting love
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To bear this heavy trial,
So place your trust in Him
And rest in Him the while.
Kymani
The Butterfly that hovered around
you today?
That was me
The Feather you found at your feet?
That was me
The Robin in the garden?
That was me too
I am still around you,
loving and protecting you . . .
Until we meet again
Mícheal
Daddy please don’t look so sad,
Mammy please don’t cry.
I am in the arms of Jesus and He sings me lullabies.
Please do not try to question God,
don’t think He is unkind.
Don’t think He sent me to you and that
He changed His mind.
You see, I am special and I’m needed up above.
I’m the special child you gave Him,
the product of your love.
I’ll always be there with you.
So watch the sky at night.
Find the brightest star that`s gleaming.
That’s my halo’s brilliant light.
Lily-Rose Marie O’Toole
So Daddy please don`t look so sad.
Mammy please don’t cry.
I am in the arms of Jesus.
And He sings me lullabies.
20th May 2011 - 2nd March 2013
If Roses Grow in Heaven
If Roses Grow in Heaven,
Lord pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Mot her’s arms,
And tell her they’re from me.
Tell her I love her and I miss her,
And wh en she turns to smile,
Place a kiss upon her cheek,
And hold her for awhile.
Bec ause remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
But there’s an ache within my heart,
Th at will never go away.
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
3
Remembering . . .
Life really is
changed forever
These feelings feel familiar but I don’t recognise them. Tired,
irritated, frustrated, sad, down, crying a lot but for no reason. A
few people told me maybe I should see a doctor but I put it all
down to everyday life. Full time work, three children, football
training & matches, birthday parties, always on the go.
Or is it something else?
Eventually I go to the doctor thinking
a few days rest and I’ll be back on
form again. My doctor is a lovely
lady and very easy to talk to. I
explain my symptoms and suddenly
uncontrollably begin to get quite upset
and cry. I tell her I feel uneasy, upset
a lot, very up and down, “but it’s not
about Shane”. Why would I say those
^VYKZ&>OLYLKVLZ:OHULÄ[PU[V
all of this? Shane, our beautiful boy
who died 11 years ago to Cot Death.
My doctor tells me I have unresolved
issues from Shane’s death. I try
to convince her that that’s not the
case. I have done counselling. I have
dealt with Shane’s death. I have my
moments of upset for him but this is
not about him or was it?
`I couldn’t beat this
feeling that kept returning
to haunt me. Griefa
I came away surprised. That was not
the diagnosis I was expecting. How
could I have unresolved issues? I
live with Shane in my life every day.
I speak about him all the time to
anyone who’ll listen. I have his photos
all around the house with the other
children’s photos. I don’t hide them. I
don’t understand. Over the next day
or so I speak with my husband and
family about it and they all agree with
the doctor. How did I not see this?
The house is quiet, my thoughts are
my own. I lift the phone and ask for
help. Margaret at the other end of
4 ISIDA Newsletter
the phone reassures me that Ger
can help me. When Ger rang me
back there was that voice I knew so
well, but it had been a while. It had
been 10 years since my last sessions
with Ger and here I was again. Ger
understood where I was at and
reassured me it was okay to feel how
I was feeling. I felt like a failure. That
I couldn’t beat this feeling that kept
returning to haunt me. GRIEF.
Even at this stage after asking for help
I thought a few sessions and I’ll be
ÄUL0JVU[PU\LK[VILZ\YWYPZLKH[
what each session brought. I began
to see how I as a person dealt with
things and how unknowns to myself
could bury things. When I sat back
and looked at it all I realised that I
thought I had dealt with things, but
you never deal with the death of
your child. How could you? Your
whole life is changed forever, and
also the future. The void will never
ILÄSSLKHUKHS[OV\NO0UL]LY[YPLK
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by. Keeping busy was my way,
but all of a sudden that wasn’t
working. I had gone from being a
very organised person to someone
who could barely make a decision
on something. I could also now
see how I was torturing myself. I
was reliving the night of Shane’s
death over and over in my head
for years. I could now recognise
the guilt of not being there. That
my mind would not let me forget
that night. With that, my mind was
so overcome with bad memories that
my good and happy memories with
Shane were stuck. Stuck somewhere
inside. I knew I hadn’t forgotten
them or it wasn’t a case of not
remembering. But they were buried. I
could feel that they were locked away
somewhere inside - I just couldn’t get
to them. I felt as though I was right
back there 11 years ago starting all
over again.
Here I am now three months later still
off work, doing continuous weekly
counselling sessions with Ger, taking
baby steps towards Shane being a
happy part of life rather than sadness
and opening up my suppressed
memories. My family may not be
complete, but always will be in my
heart.
Roisin Mahony
Son Shane Stallard Mahony died
28th June 2002 aged 9 months.
Roisin & Jim
Mahony with
James,
Sinead and D
aragh
Remembering . . .
Sophie
Time keeps passing day by
day. Months into months.
But we still remember that
day like it was yesterday. We
remember holding you not
wanting to say goodbye. Not
wanting to let you go wishing
that it wasn’t true and we
could take you home. Wondering how our world could be
shattered into a thousand pieces within a couple of hours
never to be the same again, but most of all we remember you
in our arms our little baby girl. You may not be here with us
but no one will ever be able to take that day away from us.
Sleeptight and sweet dreams Sophie
Love and miss you so much
Mammy, Daddy & Callum.
Tristan
If only I could turn back time,
when I was yours and you were mine,
I’d hold you tight against me so,
I’d hold you tight and not let go,
Poem for Ella
As I sit in heaven
and watch you everyday,
I try to let you know with signs,
I never went away.
I hear you when you're laughing
and watch you while you sleep,
I even place my arms around you
to calm you as you weep.
I see you wished these days away,
begging to have me home,
So I try to send you signs
so you'll know you're not alone.
Don't feel guilty that you have life
that was denied to me.
Heaven is truly beautiful,
just you wait and see.
So live your life, laugh again,
enjoy yourself, be free.
Then I know with every breath you take,
you'll be taking one for me.
Loved and missed more and more with every passing day.
We love you Ella,
from Mammy, Daddy, Rachel and Rory
I miss you with each passing breath,
my love for you an endless depth,
How can life bring so much pain?
How will I learn to live again?
I see your face, it’s everywhere,
I feel your skin, your nose, your hair,
I hear your laugh, I feel your smile,
C’ant I hold you for just a while?
I yearn to hold your small, small hand,
Into my arms you gently land,
And bang my head as you did before,
To stay with me forever more,
To kiss my lips and touch my skin,
To let me watch and draw you in,
“Save me Son for I’m lost” I say,
“Come back to me, beside me lay,
Hold on tight, your mum is here,
You hold on tight, Your mum is near,
You wait for me, I shan’t be long,
I’ll be right back to sing your song,
To play with you and hold you tight,
I LOVE YOU SON and nighty night”.
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
5
Support
How quickly the year has gone and I am sure for some of
you who have recently lost your child it has felt like a life
time. Grief is relentless it does not care if you are tired
and worn out by it, it just keeps on coming. Take time for
yourselves and mind yourselves.
This year we are holding a Family Support weekend. We
decided on a two day event this year as people indicated
to us after last year’s Support Day that they would have
liked to spend more time with other families attending
and share their stories and experiences. So put the 9th.
and 10th. of November in your diaries. We have a full day
planned for Saturday with talks in the morning and group
sessions in the afternoon. There will be complimentary
[OLYHWPLZHUKHX\PL[YVVTMVYHU`VUL^OVPZÄUKPUN[OL
going too much.
To start the evening off we will have a magician for the
children, and then a bit of boogy bingo for the adults and
children.
On Sunday 10th November we will have a crafter to help
us make something in memory of the special people
who are not physically with us. Particularly because it is
coming up to Christmas and it is so important to include
all our children at that time.
Special Service:
Support:
We currently run the following Support Groups
around the country:
Limerick:
South Court Hotel, Raheen,
Limerick.
Cork:
Ennismore Reatreat Centre,
Cork.
Dublin:
Beacon Hotel, Sandyford,
Dublin.
Waterford: WHAT centre for Arts &
Health.
I am aware of how different we are as human beings, and
the differences we experience in how we grieve. I have
striven to provide a service which is not driven by a name
or by ticking boxes but by the needs of those seeking
support from us. I think that is what makes the I.S.I.DA.
unique.
We are moving forward with the help of parents – who
pull us up and tell us what is not helpful and what we
need to do to meet the needs of parents and families.
Ger O’Brien
>L^PSSÄUPZO[OLKH`^P[OHZWLJPHSZLY]PJL[VJLSLIYH[L
the lives of our children who have gone before us.
Following a lot of discussions with parents who have
attended our Remembrance Services around the country
over the years it seems families are getting upset when
they attend the services. They are telling us that the
service is dragging them down and they feel depressed
after. This is not what we want to happen, and therefore
we have suspended the Remembrance Services for the
moment to take a look and see how we can adjust them
and perhaps, turn them into a space where we offer
hope and understanding. But always with respect.
6 ISIDA Newsletter
Thank you
Thank you to all the families who sent in
poems, stories and pictures. I do know
that those newly bereaved get great
comfort reading them and, while it is very
sad to see the pictures of the children, it is
a nice way to remember and honour them.
The following is an extract from the talk that Paddy delivered at the Family Day last year
A Father’s Grief
Our gorgeous daughter Roise, aged 21 months passed away on Monday
01st Aug 2011. This is my story and experience of the grief.
Roise was born on the 28th Oct 2009, and we were thrilled to bits that
we had a healthy little girl to join the ever increasing kibbutz of myself, Orla
and our three fantastic boys, Cian, Eoin and Noah. Nearly straight away,
Orla suspected all was not quite right with Roise, she was an extremely poor
feeder and she just did not present like our other kids as babies. Every time
we would come into contact with babies roughly the same age and even
younger the chasm in respective developments between sparring babies
was all too apparent. Orla stuck by it like a train had hit her and me as
delusional as Chamberlain during WW2, all babies are different, the normal
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nightmare began.
Roise starting having seizures or to give them their proper term, infantile
spasms, in April 2010 one weekend when Orla went to visit her mother
in Thurles. I will always remember that life changing phone call from Orla
on her way to Clonmel hospital in an ambulance, it was like the old Irish
catchphrase ‘’I will always remember where I was when Kennedy was shot,
\WYVVÄUN[OLOV\ZLTPSRPUNJH[[SL»»P[Z[PJRZPU`V\YTPUKHTVZ[\U^LSJVTL
memory like a scar, a broken bone or a limp. I was calling out to my parent’s
house when I received Orla’s call and both of us still recount saying at the
time, we really hope this isn’t the beginning of something really, really bad. It
was. After weeks of investigations, we had a preliminary diagnosis that our
precious, little Roise had a metabolic disease called mitochondrial disease.
Things were getting very serious especially so when you don’t even know &
have never heard of the name of the disease your daughter has.
From the start of the seizures in April until maybe July when they starting
[VNP]L\ZHZSPNO[S`TVYLKLÄULKKPHNUVZPZP[^HZSPRLILPUNPUHIV_PUN
ring and continually getting punch after punch landed on you. Drip feed of
diagnosis left hook, inappropriate nurse scaring the daylights out of you with
stories from the front right cross, rude and insensitive doctors with a body
shot, parents of similarly affected children with more stories from the front
as the ultimate uppercut. Then you top it off with a life limiting or maybe life
ending disease; it all makes for a ferocious foe, a bit like Brian Cody and
Alex Ferguson rolled into one. We were on the ropes with nowhere to run,
getting disorientated, we just wanting to curl up and hide, feeling trapped&
confused, wondering if this was all real, maybe we are dreaming, maybe
we are dead ourselves and have entered some sort of purgatory, trying to
keep everything normal for the other kids, myself and Orla trying to convince
each other that it was all going to be Ok, that we were all going to be ok.
Yet feeling so scared.
Roise started to get pretty sick on the Friday of race week, August 2011.
The Friday before the August Bank Holiday weekend is normally associated in
Ireland with the peak of summer, family fun, everybody in holiday mode bliss.
I brought Roise into hospital in Galway on the Friday afternoon. They became
PUJYLHZPUNS`^VYYPLK[OLYLZVZOL^HZÄYZ[TV]LK[V.HS^H`0U[LUZP]LJHYL
deep into Friday night/Saturday morning, then they decided to transfer her to
Dublin on Saturday morning by ambulance to Temple St Intensive Care. We
were back in the that boxing ring again, the opponents were getting bigger,
meaner and really meant business this time, they had delivered some choice
blows up to this but they were only getting warmed up.
During the day on the Saturday we got up to Dublin, we knew the doctors
Support
were worried about Roise, they hoped her breathing would improve and she
would rally and after the long journey from Galway and the amount of drugs
she was on for the journey, blah, blah , blah. I can still remember thinking
how serious the situation was when you could really, really see and feel how
stressed and worried the doctor was about our little daughter. It was a bank
holiday weekend, the biggest of the year, the consultant was so worried
about our little girl she was stuck in Temple St at all hours of the day and
night. It sounds silly but it really made us realise how sick she was. We went
to bed that night seriously worried but really we were totally unprepared for
the Tsunami of grief, despair and sadness that was about to wash over us.
I should have known something serious was going to happen that Sunday
morning as Orla, and I’ll say this in the most supportive & understated way
I can, is not a morning person by any means. So when I woke on Sunday
PU[OLZHS\IYPV\Z]PZP[VY»ZYVVTVUT`MVSKV\[JOHPYPU;LTWSL:[[VÄUK[OH[
Orla was up and in with Roise already, I should have known that something
serious was afoot. As I walked out of the room to start getting gowned up
to go into intensive care, Orla was coming in to me and I could tell from her
that things weren’t good. She proceeded to tell me that Roise wasn’t going
to make it and that she was going to die. I remember getting really upset.
I wanted to stop crying but I couldn’t. In these situations, it’s like grief has
a free pass or a veto and can go anywhere it wants when it wants how it
wants. It’s like one of those access all areas badges.
For what seemed like the millionth time on this tortuous journey with
Roise, we started our regrouping mechanism.The regrouping mechanism
kind of goes like this, you get some really bad news that is life changing,
as bad as it can be, you get knocked back, you don’t think you can go on,
you think you can’t cope. You wait for a while and then you continue on
with a new course of action kind of accepting, kind of ignoring and kind of
telling yourself it will be alright. Anyway we got back into the ring and went
into see our little girl. We talked to the anaesthetist, and we had to start
thinking about Roise leaving us and plan for how this was going to happen.
>LZWLU[HSSVM:\UKH`^P[O9VPZLWYLWHYPUNV\YZLS]LZMVYOLYÄUHSOLHY[
breaking departure. I still remember sitting up with Roise in her little cubicle
in Temple Street Intensive Care late into the night and early into her last
morning with us. Feeling numb and trying to harness as much appreciation
from the fact that I had her there with me still. This was all I was going to
have of her in future memories.
Family members came to visit and say goodbye and on the Bank Holiday
Monday 01st Aug 2011, Roise left us broken hearted in the mean streets
and jaded surroundings of north inner city Dublin. More clichés on the way
but it didn’t feel real, it felt like a movie and a bad one at that, again you brain
obviously can’t cope with the overwhelming shit that is being thrown at you
HUKNVLZPU[VZOVJRÄS[LYZV\[[OLNYPLMWV\YPUNPU[V`V\YIYHPUSPRLHI\YZ[
water main.
We had the funeral at home and with the support of some great friends
& family, we gave Roise, out little warrior princess, a wonderful, personal,
KPNUPÄLKZLUKVMM0UZVTL^H`Z[OH[^HZVUS`[OLLUKVM[OLÄYZ[JOHW[LYVM
our journey as a family, especially in terms of dealing with the grief.
Grief ages you, it’s like watching the ageing process fast forwarded on TV.
I think myself and Orla always felt like younger people that we actually were
before this happened. I think we had a youthful almost innocent outlook on
life. I think we almost felt guilty about how lucky we were. After this nightmare
kicked in, you feel kind of slow, and lethargic and older. Everything seems
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
7
to be a hassle now. I feel like I’m in my 50s. It’s like during Ger’s from ISIDA’s
ÄYZ[]PZP[[V\ZZOLZHPK`V\SVZL`V\YJVUÄKLUJL0KPKU»[RUV^^OH[ZOL
meant at the time but for me now that manifests itself in being really unsure
HUK\UJLY[HPUVM^OH[0HTKVPUN0ÄUKP[KPMÄJ\S[[VTHRLKLJPZPVUZ.L[[OL
SH^UTV^LYÄ_LKNL[[OLZOV^LYKVVYÄ_LKNVV\[[V[OLZOVWZHUKI\`
HWHPYVMZOVLZHSSZLLTSPRLJVTWSL_KPMÄJ\S[[HZRZ
Describe grief
power & volume the water has on the tree and you can bedrenched in
seconds, you didn’t see it coming, you weren’t expecting it but you are now
drenched. Anyone looking at you would think how are you so wet? It’s such
a beautiful day andit’s not even raining and I’m all dry over here. Grief can
do a good job of drenching you in all sorts of devious ways.
What do you have left
When you lose your child, you are not left with a lot - memories, pictures,
video clipsand possessions. All the clothes, the bedroom, what to do with
OLY[OPUNZÄUKPUNP[PTWVZZPISL[VSL[[OLTNVI\[UV[^HU[PUN[VZLLT
like an eejit building shrines inside and outside your head in memory of
lost treasures.
We are so scared now that we will forget Roise, her smile, her smell, her
touch. You hold onto anything you can. The Friday night that I brought Roise
into hospital, she had a little pair of yellow socks on her. As she got sicker
and started struggling to hold onto life, the pressure started cranking up and
things started getting more serious from a medical perspective, it’s amazing
really, you start to lose possession of your child in the hospital, and she
starts to become the doctor’s child, the medic’s child, the hospitals child,
not in an overly sensitive parent sort of way but in a very real, practical sort of
way, tubes, wires, canyelas, pulling, dragging, keeping alive sort of way. You
can feel the little thing slipping away, being wrenched away from you. At one
stage during the night, Avril, the wonderful, gentle, caring nurse on duty that
night handed me her little socks as the doctors tried to get another one of
the ubiquitous, tortuous canyelas into Roise’s innocent unco-operative little
leg. I put her little yellow socks into my trousers pocket.
That is all I have left from that apocalyptic night, one of those grubby but
Catastrophic Empathy
dainty unwashed yellow socks. Surely a desperate return on the gamble
When friends or family try to deal with your grief or hurt, hopefully I won’t
of fatherhood, left feeling like the fool who gets the bullet during a game of
come across as too angry or bitter but really it’s amazing how much they
Russian roulette, one yellow sock. I still keep that sock pretty close to me as
can disappoint you as you watch them disappear into the sunset at the
T`ÄUHS[LU\V\ZSPUR[V9VPZLMYVT[OH[UPNO[
time you need them most. I think this is a constant for most people I have
talked to who have lost children; just how much the pain and grief you feel Positive thinking
can be exaggerated by the reaction of friends and family. I should put in a When we started coming to terms with Roise’s diagnosis, if they were
small disclaimer here and say maybe our friends and families don’t stand giving out medals or degrees in self-delusion, then I would have been
a chance with us anyway in terms of what they say; we can accuse them pretty close to top of the class, 1st Class honours. I was pathologically
either of deserting us or else them being way too over familiar with us and WVZP[P]L0[^HZHSSNVPUN[VIL6RP[^HZHSSNVPUN[VILÄULHUKSVVRPUN
our grief. Still it’s amazing how much they can disappoint us.
IHJRVUP[UV^P[WYVIHIS`^HZÄULILJH\ZLH[H]LY`IHZPJO\THUSL]LS
When Roise was sick and we were telling people about her diagnosis and and it sometimes comes down to this, we still had gorgeous Roise with
when we met people after she died, Orla came up with a term for people’s us. As worried as we were, as sick as she got at times, we still had her
reaction. She called it catastrophic empathy. When you tell them your story, snuggly and warm in our arms and were able to enjoy her fantastic smile
you get reactions like,’’ I don’t know how you do it, if that happened me, I’d and cuddle.
die honestly I would’’. ‘’How do you get up out of bed in the morning ‘’?You
The positivity fragmented and frittered away in the days and weeks after
almost think you are being disloyal to your child’s memory by not dying or she died. I am now left over a year later trying to build myself up,trying to
not staying in bed or not being whatever they deem to be appropriate for a delude myself into thinking life is good and life will get better. I do think life
grieving parent.
will get better and the pain, hurt and confusion will dissipate slowly. You
(UV[OLYKPMÄJ\S[[OPUN[VKLHS^P[OPZWLVWSL»ZMHJLZ[OL`HYLSVVRPUNH[`V\ VM[LUOLHYVSKLYWLVWSL[HSRPUNHIV\[^OLU[OL`YL[PYLHUKOV^ KPMÄJ\S[
and they are so relieved that they are not you and they don’t have to live your that transition is. It takes them a long time to slow down, see the world
life, you can see the pity etched, almost tattooed on their freaked out faces. It through different eyes and in a different way and for the retiree to start
isn’t the most helpful reaction, if catastrophic empathy comes your way; bat it enjoying life. I think living with a trauma like losing your child and carrying
back over the net to the server.
that grief around on your shoulders, in your head, in your heart, require
you to adapt and try and see the beauty and gift of life in a different way.
Sneaky grief
You need to retire your old life and your old ways, start the clock at zero
One night recently when I was near sleep and thinking about grief, an
again and start playing the game again. You might have a few false starts
image of a small tree, bush or hedge came into my head. Picture a really
but you have to try and keep trying. Your old buddy grief might want to
heavy shower of rain, followed by really nice sunshine. You can imagine,
come along for a while.
the weather is now nice but if you go in under that tree or bush or hedge to
In memory of lovely, little Roise.
retrieve a ball or you are looking for something and if you bang against the
Paddy
tree and all the water comes off the tree, you get a shock just how much
One of the hardest things I have spent hours thinking about in relation to
grief is trying to get how you feel inside your head into words and trying to
explain grief to yourself and to get those feelings across to other people. I
don’t know how many times, I have been really down and sad and people
ask me how are you or how are things, I just hear myself saying not too
bad or good now or some such rubbish and I feel like shite. It’s just an
LHZPLYHUZ^LY[VZH`[VWLVWSL0»TÄUL@V\KVU»[RUV^OV^[VNL[HJYVZZ
how you are feeling and you don’t know how much they really want to
know, how much pain they want or are able to take from you. So in terms
of describing grief, I now realise that this is an impossible task. Grief is
a state of mind, an intangible feeling, it can manifest itself as a taste, a
smell,and it can be sparked off by a song, by déjà vu or the most innocent
VYPUZPNUPÄJHU[[OPUNSVVRPUNH[HI\[[LYÅ`^OPaaPUNI`VYHZWPKLYZUHYPUN
HÅ`PUP[Z^LIVMNYPLMVYHZZPTWSLHZSVVRPUNH[H[YLLNYV^HUKISVVT
It is sadness in its purest form with a sprinkling of desolation thrown in for
good measure, it does a great line in anger but grief is above and superior
to words. Words fail to describe grief and don’t do it justice so we should
all try and stop trying to put words on it. It’s a fruitless, thankless task.
8 ISIDA Newsletter
National Pediatric
Bed sharing article published in British
Medical Journal BMJ Open:
“Bed sharing when parents do not smoke: is there a risk of SIDS?
$QLQGLYLGXDOOHYHODQDO\VLVRIðYHPDMRUFDVHFRQWUROVWXGLHVú
http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/3/5/e002299.full
Data from the Irish case control study of SIDS was included in this large study along with data from Europe and
Australasia.
Data from the Irish case control study of SIDS has previously
shown that bed-sharing increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS) for infants whose mothers smoke; for infants of
non smokers bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS in infants under
the age of three months.
The SIDS rates in Ireland have dropped considerably over the past
twenty years; from an average of 134 deaths per year (2.0 per
1000 live births) in the late eighties and early nineties to average
of 23 deaths per year (0.31 per 1000 for the years 2009-2011).
Consequently, Ireland now has one of the lowest SIDS and overall
infant mortality rates worldwide.
This reduction in the number of SIDS deaths is the consequence
of intervention campaigns aimed at increasing parental awareness
of guidelines on how to reduce an infant’s risk of SIDS. These
guidelines encouraged parents not to place babies on their front to
sleep (known as the Back to Sleep campaign) and to avoid smoking
during pregnancy. Infant-parent bed-sharing was also highlighted
as a risk factor for SIDS. While there is already a general consensus
that sleeping with a baby increases the risk of cot death if the parents
smoke or if the mother has been drinking alcohol or taking drugs,
[OLYLHYLJVUÅPJ[PUNVWPUPVUZHZ[V^OL[OLYILKZOHYPUNPUNLULYHS
represents a risk when these factors are not present.
;OLZ[\K`W\ISPZOLKPU)41JSHYPÄLZ[OH[ILKZOHYPUN^P[OWHYLU[Z
still increases the risk of SIDS, even when the parents are nonsmokers and the mother has not been drinking alcohol and does
not use illegal drugs. The absolute risk in these circumstances is
small.
Babies can still be brought into the parents’ bed for comfort and
feeding during the night, but that they should be placed in a cot
next to the parents’ bed to sleep.
Despite the drop in the number of deaths, SIDS remains a leading
cause of death in infants aged between 4 weeks and one year.
Although there is no way to completely protect a baby from SIDS,
steps can be taken to reduce the risk as much as possible. The
Irish National Paediatric Mortality Register has issued the guidelines
listed in here which can also be found on our website,
www.sidsireland.ie
The Irish National Paediatric
Mortality Register has issued the
following guidelines
Z Always place your baby on their
back to sleep
Z Don’t smoke during pregnancy
Z Don’t smoke or allow anyone to
smoke in the home or in the car
Z The safest place for your baby to
sleep at night is in a cot in your room
Z Breastfeed your baby if possible
Z Don’t let your baby get too hot
Z Make sure your baby’s head stays
uncovered while asleep
Z Place baby with their feet to the foot
of the cot
Z No quilts, duvets, bumper pads,
pillows or toys in the cot
Z Do not fall asleep in bed with your
baby if you or your partner smoke
or have taken alcohol, drugs or
medication that makes you sleep
more heavily OR if your baby is
less than three months old, born
prematurely or with low birth weight
(2.5kg/5.5lbs when born)
Z Never fall asleep with your baby on a
sofa or armchair
Z If your baby seems unwell get
medical advice early and quickly.
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
9
Coping strategies
Mindfulness
Do you ever arrive at a destination and wonder how you got there or eat a meal and not be able
to remember the taste? Well, you’re not alone. Most of us live our lives on automatic pilot. We
can go through a whole day and actually not be fully part of it. I was like that all the time until I
discovered mindfulness. Some years ago I took part on a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
(MBSR) and of all the courses I have attended over the years this course had the biggest impact
on my wellbeing. I learned how to live in the present moment, to distinguish between acting or
reacting to a situation. It also helped me to cope with stress, I still have the stresses of life but I
deal with the stress differently. This is all achieved by living mindfully and practicing meditation.
Mindfulness is our capacity to be aware and our capacity
to be present, here, now, this moment. Most of the
time we are not here at all, we only imagine we are. We
are either in the past or in the future. When we were
children we were all masters of mindfulness, we all lived
in the present moment. We have only to stop and look
at a small child at play and
see how mindful they are.
Watch a small child looking
H[HWPLJLVMÅ\MMZLLOV^
attentive, how present, how
concentrated they are. Yes,
we were all mindful once and
we can capture, develop and
strengthen that capacity again.
We can all learn again to be
mindful. One way of learning
is through the discipline of
meditation or by building up
small daily practice that over
time strengthens our capacity
to be mindful people.
ISIDA Newsletter
By giving our attention to our breathing, noticing as we
breathe in and breathe out, we come into the present.
Giving our attention to what we hear, the sounds of the
moment, brings us into the
present. Giving our attention to
how we walk or what we eat
also brings us into the present
moment. These are some
practices that can help us
become more mindful people.
`Mindfulness is
paying attention
on purpose in a
particular way in the
present moment
with curiosity,
without judgement.a
Mindfulness is a very simple
and a very powerful practice
HUK[OLILULÄ[ZMYVTP[HYL
immense. “Mindfulness is
paying attention on purpose in
a particular way in the present
moment with curiosity, without
judgement.” (Jon Kabat Zinn)
At the Family Day in Athlone
I will lead a short meditation
and also have some simple
relaxing exercises for people
to practice. Please join me if
`V\HYLPU[LYLZ[LKPUÄUKPUNV\[TVYLHIV\[TPUKM\SULZZ
how it can help you live in the present moment.
(Jon Kabat Zinn)
It is by building small practices
of mindfulness on a daily basis,
that over time, we become
more mindful people. These practices can take different
forms. We can use our body as a way of calming and stilling
the mind, the body is always in the present. We can use our
breath, our senses, mindful eating or walking as ways of
10
bringing us into the present. These are simple practices but
over time they strengthen our capacity for mindfulness.
Deirdre Dowling
Family Support Weekend
9th and 10th November 2013
Radisson Blu Athlone
10am 9th November
€25 Registration fee for a family
This includes lunch
„ A mothers grief
Special rates for overnight stay in the
Radisson Blu Hotel
„ A fathers grief
„ Children and grief
To register please ring 01 8732711
„ The grieving couple
„ The ripple effect of grief
10am 10th November
„ Mothers workshop
„ Mindfulness workshop
„ Fathers workshop
„ Healing through dance workshop
„ Family members workshop
„ Families crafting together for Christmas
„ Alternative therapies
„ Display of the new quilt
„ Mindfulness workshop
„ Trading brand name and identity
„ Healing through dance
workshop
„ Dedicated special service
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Testimonials from last years attendees
`A wonderful day, so lovely to talk and meet
other grieving parents a
`Healing through dance was very relaxing a
`Parent speakers were excellent, very relevant a
`Keep inviting us every year a
`My mom is crying I guess that a good thing a
Cian 8
Fundraising
Helen leads the way!
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Sudden Infant Death Association
,6,'$OHGWKHDQQXDO%DUURZ:DONIRU
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2013.
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from Borris with 130 others.
She recently took over her position with
the organisation and the Kilkenny city born
WLYZVUHSP[`OHZHSYLHK`THKLHZPNUPÄJHU[
contribution. So far, the Barrow Walk has
YHPZLKÁHUK[OH[ÄN\YL^PSSOVWLM\SS`
rise over the next few weeks,
The walkers started from Borris mid-morning, and walked along the River Barrow to the Clashganney lock where tea
and refreshments were served, courtesy of local business people and shop owners.
From there it was on to Graignamangh and from there to St. Mullins where all were treated royally by the staff and
owners of the Mullicháin Cafe right on the riverside.
The beauty of the Barrow Walk is that you do it at your own pace with your friends. After
the event, the participants enjoyed refreshments courtesy of Driscoll’s Pub in Tinnahinch.
12
ISIDA Newsletter
Fundraising
Leylas Mam, family and friends walk the Barrow walk in her memory.
Ruby’s Ball
ISIDA Chairman Kevin O’Meara speaking at Rubys ball
Lorraine Keane and Rubys mother
Emer Ayoub
Julie Egan and Mary O’Hara enjoying themselves at Rubys Ball
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
13
Fundraising
PJs for ISIDA
A Pyjama Day fund-raiser was held at a local crèche in aid of the Irish Sudden
Infant Death Association (ISIDA) on June 20th 2013.
The Little Children’s Centre in Fettercairn lost one of their children Leyla
Pilkington (age 1) who died suddenly from pneumonia. Employee at the crèche
and grandmother of Leyla, Valerie said the event aimed to raise awareness
about the support that exists for those affected by sudden infant death.
“The Irish Sudden Infant Death Association contacted my daughter Lyndsey
after her one year old daughter passed away last year. The group organize
weekends away and bereavement counseling to parents who have lost a child.”
The Little Children’s Centre
Leyla’s mother Lyndsey said the ISIDA have made a huge difference to her life.
“I have made life long friends through the ISIDA. They make you feel safe
comfortable talking about how you feel. By raising funds for the organisation, I feel
like I can give something back.”
For more information visit www.isida.ie
Ben, Darren, Carey and Cystas
Wobbler Room Students
Jamie, Hannah and Callegh
Hell and Back
Challenge
Well done to Graham Jago who took on this years Hell
and Back Challenge raising £275.00 for ISIDA.
14
ISIDA Newsletter
Ava, Kyle, Alise and Hassan
Pre-school studensts, Cameron,
Jordan and Sean
Fundraising
ISIDA Golf Day
April this year saw a Charity Golf Day and Dinner organised
by Fred Stutt at Mount Wolseley Golf Club in Carlow.
The day was a great sucess raising in total €2116.50 for
ISIDA in memory of Fred’s God-daughter Áine who died
suddenly in July 2006 aged 8 months.
Fred hopes this continues as an annual event and has a
date set for Friday May 9th 2014. Further details can be
obtained from the ISIDA website nearer the time or by
emailing [email protected]
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LWOVUL!
A head shave
for ISIDA
Michael Philips before
and after
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
15
Donations
Monies received from 05/7/2012 – 04/7/2013
Name
Event
Kathleen Farrelly
Aoife O’Rourke
Pupils of Loreto Primary School
Mary Fox
Emma Charlton
Ciara O’Connor
Pauline McCormack & friends
Pauline McCormack & friends
Robert Jones
Ashling Love
Michelle Gallagher
Mary & Ger Kelly
Joanne Mathews & Eamon Carthy
Jennifer Lane
Gearoid O’Brien, Paul, Michael & Robert Duggan
Caroline Kennedy
Adrienne & David O’Hanlon
Tess & Joe Wall
Pat & Siobhan Hartnett
Terry Anne O’Carroll
Martina & Lynn O’Connor
Diana Doyle
Eileen Smith
Jerome Farrell & Ciara Murphy
Tony Kealy
Eleanor & Eddie Duff, family & friends
Jacinta Plessy
Anonymous
Corina McCormack
Julian Durand
Stephanie O’Loughlin
Mary O’Hara
Dawn Kelly & friends
Mary Kate Kenyon
Attendees at Family Support Day
Paul Dunwoody
Mrs. Dowling & Ms. Ann Dowling
Joan Crawford
Riona Crowley
Mary Kate Kenyon
Breda Moloney
Jim & Deirdre O’Malley
Pat Byrne, Byrne’s Funeral Directors
Patricia O’Reilly
Maeve & Oliver Blackwell
Lorraine & Michael O’Regan
Sara Kelly
Mary Kate Kenyon
Miriam Higgins
Isabelle O’Meara
Donation
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Cake sale
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
5K Carlow Town Walk
Great Limerick Run
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Donation
Various fundraising events
English Chanel swim
Beara Grills Challenge
Women’s Mini Marthon 2012
Donation
Donation
Donation
Women’s Mini Marathon 2012
Cork Marathon
Fundraising Night
Donation
Donation
Donation
Sale of ISIDA badges
10K Run
Donation
Tug of war
Sponsored head shave
Limerick Mini Marathon
Sale of ISIDA badges
Irish Night
Barrow Walk 2012
Donation
Donation
Donation
Barrow Walk
Barrow Walk
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
Sale of ISIDA pens & badges
Donation
Sale of ISIDA pens
Donation
Donation
Cork Marathon
Marlene Armstrong
Donation
16
ISIDA Newsletter
Money received
€600.00
€70.00
€262.00
€230.00
€565.00
€112.00
€4,392.00
€1600.00
€974.10
€230.00
€134.00
€500.00
€17,750.00
€1,975.00
€8092.00
€155.00
€612.00
€20.00
€50.00
€180.00
€40.00
€1,782.00
€25.00
€50.00
€731.00
€1,288.00
€2,000.00
€50.00
€480.00
€1,300.00
€480.25
€216.46
€592.02
€4264.18
€10.00
€388.00
€18.00
€50.00
€50.00
€60.00
€20.00
€20.00
€500.00
€100.00
€19.50
€2,700.00
€505.00
€200.00
€22.00
€40.00
€1,430.00
€50.00
Donations
Name
Event
Sara & Alan Kelly
Family Day
Mary Kate Kenyon
Barbara Angulo
Family Day
The Community Foundation of Ireland
Parents
Miriam Higgins
Pauline Tynan
Pauline Tynan
Edel McSharry
Andrew Sanders
Valerie Pilkington
Joey O’Doherty
Graham Jago
Lyndsey Pilkington & friends
Lyndsey Pilkington
Tommy Ivers (Little Angels Retail Unit)
Aline & Paddy Moloney
Roisin & Jim Mahony, family & friends
Adrienne Ni Cheallaigh
Mary Strutt
Michael Penston
Eithne Bolger
Mary Kate Kenyon
Valerie Farrell
Penny Bartlett
Brenda Larkin
Mary Kate Kenyon
Kari Ann Fannin
Mary Kate Kenyon
Linda Lester
John & Julie Davis
Students of Hazelwood College
Pupils of Moate Community School
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4VUH4H`.YPMÄU
Oliver & Maeve Blackwell
Donation
Sale of ISIDA pens
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
New Quilt
Donation
Dart’s Game- Kilkenny
Barrow Walk
Mountain Climb in memory of Elyse
Donation
Donation
Dublin City Marathon
Hell & Back Challenge
Bag packing
Barrow Walk 2012
Donation
Donation
Walk to Waterford
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
ISIDA Quilt
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
-HUJ`+YLZZ9HMÅL
New Quilt
New Quilt
New Quilt
New Quilt
Donation
Donation
Wedding cards
Donation
Donation
Donation
Donation
Sponsored Danceathon
Donation
Donation
Donation
No uniform day
No uniform day
Sale of ISIDA pens
Wedding cards
Ruby’s Ball
Paddy Lynch
Donation
Central Bank of Ireland Charity Committee
Wilma Bonner
Anne Bolger
UCD Medical Society
Nellie O’Boyle & Fiona Masterson
Deirdre O’Malley
Pauline O’Sullivan
Maureen Murphy
Kate Sheehy
Eithne Bolger
Mary Kate Kenyon
Money received
€100.00
€106.45
€10.00
€15.50
€10.45
€3,500.00
€310.00
€40.00
€371.00
€50.00
€2,300.00
€180.00
€10.00
€460.69
€155.00
€2710.00
€2984.00
€100.00
€100.00
€6,319.98
€20.00
€500.00
€100.00
€50.00
€20.00
€10.00
€250.00
€1,100.00
€20.00
€1,000.00
€480.00
€10.00
€10.00
€10.00
€10.00
€25.00
€10.00
€100.00
€150.00
€20.00
€100.00
€10.00
€2,117.00
€10.00
€25.00
€50.00
€450.00
€400.00
€30.00
€300.00
€200.00
€150.00
ISIDA General Enquiries: 01-8732711 National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391 E-mail: [email protected]
17
Donations
Name
Event
Kevin & Liz O’Meara
Ruby’s Ball
Money received
€200.00
Little Angels Creche & Pre-school
Pyjama day
*V\Y[Z(JJV\U[Z6MÄJL
;VU`:T\YÄ[[
Geraldine Lavelle
Tony King
Eilisha Healy
Lena Corduff
Noreen Reilly
Emma Lavelle
Gemma Lavelle
Niamh Moriarty
Gavin Murphy
Lyndsey Pilkington & friends
Meagan O’Neill
Michael Philips
St.Anne’s Challenge Team
Brenda Shehan
Lyndsey Pilkington
Anonymous
Maeve & Oliver Blackwell
Donation
Ruby’s Ball
Sponsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Spnsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Sponsored Skydive
Bag packing
Donation
Sponsored head shave
Christmas morning swim
Donation
New Quilt
Donation
Donation
Ruby’s Ball
Donation
Women’s Mini Marathon 2013
Various fundraising events
Coffee morning
Women’s Mini marathon 2013`
Sponsored Skydive
Charity Golf Day in memory of Áine Strutt Murdoch
Donation
Donation
Donation
9HMÅL
Hell & Back Challenge
Workshop provided by ISIDA
Donation
Women’s Mini Marathon 2013
Churchgate collection
Women’s Mini Marathon 2013
Donation
Sponsored head shave
Donation
Women’s Mini Marathon
Women’s Mini Marathon
Donation
Sponsored skydive
Sponsored skydive
Sponsored skydive
Sponsored skydive
Women’s Mini Marathon 2013
John Gibbons
Karen Coffey
Sage Ireland
Jane Stout
Laura Howlin, family & friends
Kerri Grieve
Fred Strutt
Staff of Andersen Ireland Ltd.
Pauline McCormack
Maeve & Oliver Blackwell
Breda Meade
Darren Territt
Irish Hospice Foundation
Sean Keyes
Breda & Nicola Butler & friends
Eleanor & Eddie Duff
Eileen Clohessy
Pupils of Rochfortbridge Convent School
Maureen & Larry Murphy
Florence Grehan
Ciara Kennedy
Olivia Norris
No Name
David O’Halloran
Emma Lavelle
Fiona Mullins
Lauren Webb
Jenni Brown
ISIDA Contact Information
€233.00
€150.00
€1,000.00
€325.85
€325.85
€325.85
€455.00
€501.00
€501.00
€501.00
€280.00
€270.00
€2,313.00
€977.00
€150.00
€770.00
€100.00
€10.00
€100.00
€1,000.00
€4,125.00
€65.00
€485.00
€1,312.00
€275.00
€2,754.00
€270.00
€,2,116.50
€1,000.00
€50.00
€100.00
€400.00
€115.00
€450.00
€125.00
€380.00
€1,000.00
€410.00
€83.00
€1,901.00
€150.00
€70.00
€230.00
€120.00
€280.00
€30.00
€360.00
€60.00
€3,476.50
National Paediatric Mortality Register
Irish Sudden Infant Death Association
Carmichael House,
4 North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7
Children’s University Hospital,
Temple Street,
Dublin 1.
General Enquiries: 01-8732711
National LoCall Helpline: 1850-391-391
Fax: 01-8726056
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 01-8788455
Fax: 01-8787696
E-mail: [email protected]