Billy Mulholland

Billy was 55 when he had his stroke. He was home alone when his stroke struck. He collapsed and couldn’t move so couldn’t get to the phone to call for help. It was approximately  17 hours before Billy was found - we think he had his stroke at around 7 o’clock in the evening and he wasn’t found until lunchtime the next day. 

There wasn’t a lot that they could do for Billy given the length of time before he received medical treatment so the damage was very severe.  His right side was badly affected, his arm and leg are paralysed and he lost the power of speech and his ability to read and write. 

Billy spent two months in hospital in Galway before he was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire.  He spent 6 weeks in the NRH but he didn’t make much progress in that time.  He was then transferred back to the University Hospital in Galway.  Billy had his stroke in December and by May he was placed in a nursing home where he has been ever since.

Billy has adjusted fairly well to his circumstances and has definitely kept his sense of humour.  He enjoys to be brought out for walks on the prom in Salthill in his wheelchair. He also likes to go and watch the snooker or a match in the local pub.  He has great friends who organise music and entertainment nights for him.  He also likes having meals with the whole family, however, there are times when Billy is all alone in his room in the nursing home. A few of Billy’s friends have never gotten over the changes in his life and find it too painful to visit him which is quite hard on him. He doesn’t want people to feel sorry for him, he just wants to have good times with people when he has the energy for it.

When Billy had his stroke he lost his ability to maintain himself financially and the cost of his nursing home care has mostly been paid by his family.  He has a medical card but because he is in a nursing home he is unable to access vital therapies and services within the community such as Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy. For example, he now needs a new wheelchair because the one he has is no longer suitable or safe. I’ve tried to get him occupational therapy from the community but they say they just don’t have the resources to cater for people in nursing homes even though they have medical cards and are in definite need of appliances.  They are discriminated against because of where they live!

The one message I would like to get across to others is that time is very important when a stroke occurs.  Billy may not have sustained such injuries if he had been found earlier, so if you suspect someone is having a stroke get them to the hospital as soon as possible.