2011 Stroke Award Winners

Children's Courage Award - 21 month old Leo Garry was the winner.

Leo from Co. Meath was just 18 months when he suffered a stroke in June 2011 following a complication of the chicken pox virus.

Act F.A.S.T. award - Kevin Martin, Kildare was the winner. 

30-year-old groom to be Kevin Martin from Kildare suffered a stroke just four days before getting married in August 2011. But thanks to his own recognition of the F.A.S.T. symptoms he told his dad to call 999 because he was having a stroke which resulted in him receiving timely clot-busting treatment. Fortunately he made a full recovery in time for his wedding day on 20th August.

Adult Courage Award - Rose Gallagher from Donegal was the first of our winners in this category. 

12 years ago on her 50th birthday Rose Gallagher from Donegal suffered a stroke.  For the first time in her life, nurse Rose went from being the carer to being the cared for. After the stroke, her speech, swallowing and limbs were badly affected but Rose never gave up and never complained.  Always practical, Rose has made sure all her family know how to do the Heimlich manoeuvre in case she chokes on her food. As far as the Gallaghers are concerned, Rose is still their “supermum”. 

The Family Award - The Hannan family from Co. Limerick won this award. 

The Hannan family from Limerick became united as a team to encourage their father Pat back to health after he suffered a stroke at just 35 years old. Together they rallied around, providing encouragement and positivity every step of the way to help with his recovery.

Young Person's Courage Award - Jacqui Browne. 

25-year-old Jacqui Browne originally from Finglas, now living in Limerick, suffered a stroke at just 14 years. What started off as flu and a bad headache, turned out to be a virus causing inflammation of the brain which resulted in a stroke. After 8 months of rehabilitation, Jacqui was lucky enough to go back to school and she has never looked back since.

Stroke Support Group Award - Richard Napier and the North Cork Stroke Support Group. 

Richard, having had a stroke himself, knows how hard it is to return home after a stroke.  So he approached the Gilbert Centre in Mallow, Co Cork to set up a support group for stroke survivors in North Cork. The group launched in January 2011 and meets once a month. 

Adult Courage Award - Rachael Ahern. 

Dublin-based Rachael Ahern suffered a stroke at just 28 while visiting her now husband’s parents in Limerick in 2006.  Mary, Rachael’s mother-in-law, saw that she was dragging her left leg; Rachael also had blurred vision and buzzing in her ears.   Originally from Australia, Rachael’s spirits were lifted when Aidan – her then boyfriend - proposed to her while she was still in the hospital.  Rachael had a long road of rehabilitation ahead of her, she had to learn to walk again, but she pushed herself to the limit through rehab, swimming, walking, and acupuncture.  Her work paid off and this year Rachael ran the Women’s mini-marathon in Dublin.

Carer's Award - Mai Browne.

Tipperary native Mai Browne has been caring for her husband Dominick full time following a severe stroke in 2003.  She’s up at 5.30am and doesn’t stop until it’s time for Dominick to go to bed around 8 o’ clock.  Mai only gets one hour of help everyday to get Dominick out of bed in the morning, which means she has to put him to bed on her own every night.  For her selfless devotion and her love for her husband, Mai wins the Carer’s Award. 

Young People's Courage Award - Laura McInerney.

21 year old Laura McInerney from Limerick suffered a brain haemorrhage in her first weeks of college but she has always stayed motivated, positive and driven about her rehabilitation. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Stroke Champion Award - Prof. Des O'Neill

Professor Des O’Neill has been a pioneer in promoting better services for people with stroke in Ireland for two decades.  After initial work in scoping out the needs of those with stroke in the early 1990s, Professor O’Neill set up the first acute stroke service in Ireland in Tallaght Hospital.  This service has gone from strength to strength and has led the way in stroke service development in Ireland. In 2008, Professor O’Neill was the principal investigator for Irish Heart Foundation’s National Stroke Audit – which revealed the appalling lack of services for stroke patients in Ireland.  Professor O’Neill regularly contributes to academic publications on all aspects of stroke care and is a strong advocate for care of the elderly in Ireland.