My son Fiachra was born in the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk in September 1994 after a very traumatic birth. It was a pretty harrowing experience for all of us. He had to be extracted and suffered extensive injury. He was sent to the special care unit in Drogheda Hospital where we were told there […]

“Bronagh are we looking at something serious here?” “Well Pet the Paediatrician is on his way and we’ll know better then” Why did Bronagh (the midwife) keep asking me did our new baby look like anyone? Why did she keep coming back saying things like she’s a little bit swollen round her tummy, she’s having […]

By the time I learn how to work this computer my emotion and momentum will be lost so here goes. Today I took my son David for his first speech therapy appointment in almost two years he was assessed by two speech therapists for approximately 45 minutes after which I was told very kindly that […]

On the 5th March 1998 my world fell apart. Katie came into the world a very tiny and very sick baby. Over the weekend, we had been to two hospitals, spoken to several doctors and surrounded by several machines, all of which appeared to be attached to Katie’s tiny body.Finally on the Sunday we were […]

“Is there a history of twins in your family?” the nurse asked. I was 13 weeks pregnant and having my first scan. The question did not register with me at first as I had been nervous and was just so delighted to have seen the baby moving. My husband Jim understood straight away what the […]

“Well what are we talking about here quality of life or quantity?” That was the question we asked Professor Bryan Lynch consultant Neurologist at Temple Street Hospital on 14th November 2002. His response, “I really can’t tell you”. That was the 1st day our lives changed forever. Let us backtrack a little here. Our son […]

Our son Alex is 11 years old and was born with Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and a developmental delay. Like most parents we awaited Alex’s arrival with joy as he was our first child. I didn’t drink or smoke and I attended all appointments and did pre-natal classes but you never think anything can go wrong […]

My name is Kathleen the parent of a 7-year-old boy called Paul. Paul has Autism and since October 2003 he has attended the ABACAS school in Drogheda. Paul is our only son. When he was born we were overjoyed as he was just perfect and progressed like any other baby but then at around 18 […]

Autism is a very puzzling and painful disorder for parents to understand and deal with, you have a beautiful child who seems to live in a world of his own, you reach out with love in your heart and get no response. You feel bewildered, hurt and helpless and so isolated. You know in your […]