At the Mater Hospital Foundation, we see the human side of the Mater Hospital every day.
The patients receiving exceptional care while undergoing treatment have amazing stories to tell. They highlight not only their bravery in times of difficulty, but also the wonderful care of the doctors, nurses and hospital staff that helped them through it.
Take a look at their special stories in their own words.
Born with a rare congenital heart condition, effective treatment and a determined attitude has allowed Chris live a full life to date. Now, with additional heart surgery scheduled at the Mater, he faces a new challenge.
Ray has been a stalwart of the Mater’s Pathology Lab for more than 20 years. A lover of physical challenges, he felt indestructible until his doctor identified a heart murmur. Serious surgery and rehab challenges lay ahead.
Tina contracted double pneumonia in November 2022. She was struggling to battle the condition and needed the intervention and support of the ECMO Team from the Mater Public Hospital to help her turn the corner.
Catriona received a double cancer diagnosis in late 2016 at the age of 46. She takes on challenges and events to raise funds and give something back. There are still mountains to climb, but Catriona’s meeting the challenge head on.
Derek was away with his wife celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary when he started to feel very unwell. It turned out that he had Stage 4 cancer in two organs. Ground breaking surgery has given Derek hope for the battle ahead.
Zoë had a cardiac arrest in 2017, aged 36. She needed an immediate operation to implant a dual lead ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator). Regular monitoring continues to reassure Zoë and her family.
At Christmas 2021, Chanelle was fighting for her life having just delivered her baby son at 32 weeks. A year later she could look forward to celebrating Christmas with her children and family, and to living life to the fullest.
Susan lost both her Mam and her brother at a young age to heart disease. When she started to get fainting spells ten years ago, she didn’t realise there would be a genetic connection and that a life-saving heart transplant lay ahead.
Like most 25 year olds, Monaghan native Alan Markey thought he was invincible. He was busy with life, work and a passion for Gaelic Football, but had a numbing dull pain in his back that just wouldn’t go away.
A regular and avid gym goer, Edita was a little taken aback when she woke with a pain in her breast in December 2014. Since then, she’s had to take on breast cancer three times, plus the discovery of the BRAC 1 gene.
Cavan man, Francis, is a regular visitor to the Mater. His battles throughout the last forty-one years mean he understands and appreciates more than most the vital importance of the National Heart and Lung Unit at the Hospital.
Gemma was a busy, working Mam of four when her life changed on hearing the word cancer. She was diagnosed with tumours in both breasts and so began a journey filled with hospital treatments and whirlwind emotions.
We want to hear from you – our community – about what makes The Mater Hospital special for you. Patient care is at the heart of everything we do here in the Mater Hospital Foundation, and we work closely with doctors and nurses to identify what patients and their families need most, during their hospital journey.
Perhaps you have an experience of being treated in the hospital that you’d like to share? Maybe you have been inspired to raise funds or take part in one of our campaigns, events, or fundraising challenges to help those needing treatment, and their families, when they attend The Mater Hospital? Whatever your story is, we’d love to hear it.
Interested? Please fill out the short form on this page – and we will be in touch with you directly. We won’t share any story until we have your consent for how and where it will be told.
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