Artificial heart patient ready to cheer on Cork from hospital bed

BEING tethered to an artificial heart is not going to stop 50-year-old Jerry O’Leary from cheering as loud as he can from his hospital bed for a double Cork thriller in Croke Park this weekend.

For 165 days now, the massive machine has been Jerry’s constant companion as he waits patiently in Dublin’s Mater Hospital for a real one.

Two weeks ago a heart became available for the former welder from Kanturk, Co Cork, but when all the tests were done it was found to be unsuitable.

“I was disappointed but the people who are looking after me keep saying that the next one that becomes available will be for me,” he said yesterday.

“They tell me not to give up and I won’t.”

And keeping his spirits up are the cards and letters he has received from people around the country.

“Getting so many messages from people I do not even know gives me great hope,” he said.

And Jerry was delighted to receive a Cork jersey signed by all the members of the hurling team. “I am going to wear it here in the hospital on Sunday when Cork play Waterford in the semi-final.”

Jerry, who has a TV in his hospital room, will also be watching the Cork football team compete against Donegal in the quarter-finals today. He will wear another yet unsigned jersey for that match.

Also watching the Sunday game with him when she can will be ward sister, Roisín O’Sullivan, who is also from Cork and will be on duty on the day.

“I will even be able to hear the crowd roaring during both matches because the Mater is very near Croke Park,” said Jerry.

Jerry’s is now hoping that he will undergo a successful transplant before September in the event Cork makes it to the all-Ireland final.