It’s the mother and father of all bad luck stories, and the Parkes family certainly prove that it never rains but it pours.
Three weeks ago David was carrying his one-year- old son Jake down the stairs when he tripped and fell, shattering his leg in three places.
An ambulance was called and as his wife Samantha ran to the door to let them in she tripped and broke her big toe.
Jake, who escaped injury in the fall, was later rushed to hospital with a chronic chest infection.
He and his siblings Shane, 5, and Shona, 2, then contracted the vomiting bug.
To make matters worse, the family’s television, toaster and kettle all packed up — and replacing them is proving difficult because both parents are in casts.
Then last week Shona was brought to hospital with a bowel complaint.
"I must have run across a black cat or something, I can’t believe all this has happened to us," said David.
"The morning I fell I was clinging on to the banisters on the stairs because I wasn’t able to move. I could actually see the bone protruding from my leg, I shouted for Samantha to ring the ambulance, which she did.
"When the doorbell rang she went upstairs to get the front door keys to let the ambulance man in, and I heard her screaming.
"When she came out with the keys she just hobbled down past me and opened the door, the ambulance guy took one look at her and immediately radioed in for a second ambulance, as he saw she had broken her toe.
"I am sure the people in his base must have been wondering what the hell was going on, I suppose there is a funny side to it but I couldn’t see that at the time.
"Then the toaster, telly, and kettle all went bust, and with young kids in the house that’s not easy to deal with, and because we are both in casts it’s impossible to get out to buy new ones."
Locals in Mornington, Co Meath, have rallied round the family. "Harry’s [the local supermarket] have been brilliant, they deliver groceries weekly, and Abbey Cabs have told us they will transport us free to all medical appointments which is a huge help," said David.
"Friends and family have all pitched in as well. Samantha wanted to go shopping last week and her mate from Dublin got a lend of a wheelchair, drove down here with it and brought her in to Drogheda for an hour.
"I am off work at the moment and it’s bill after bill coming through the door which is a concern. I have been told I won’t be back on my feet or able to drive for another six weeks.
"I’ve had plenty of time to think recently and I have decided to see if there is a competition for Ireland’s unluckiest family, and if there is I am entering us."
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Thursday, February 09, 2012
