‘Long road ahead’ as young woman paralysed by rare illness leaves hospital

PATRICIA INGLE yesterday stood from her wheelchair at the front entrance to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital.

With the help of her sisters Melissa and Kiera, the 22-year-old proceeded to take a tiny step out onto the hospital forecourt, a feat made possible by an irrepressible willpower.

Her family said this is one of the many awesome qualities which they are confident will help her tackle the challenges ahead.

Bravery and willpower already brought her from the brink of death in the dark months now behind her.

Patricia headed home after 1,069 days fighting a rare illness, which it is claimed she picked up while working in a pet shop.

She was recently awarded one of the highest-ever personal injury settlements at the High Court — in excess of €7.5 million, to be paid over her lifetime. Patricia is paralysed, wheelchair-bound and has to be fed through a tube after contracting chlamydia psittacosis, an airborne infection which can be transferred from birds to humans.

Her dad Pat said: “We are delighted. Trish is very excited about coming home to Murroe and nothing is going to stop her now.”

Last night Trish dropped into Crokers in Murroe for a private welcome home party, before travelling onto the family house.

Kiera said: “Trish is definitely up for the challenge. It’s a long road ahead, but she is so determined and we are all so proud of her and it’s going to keep going and going. So it’s a long road, but we’ll get there. A lot of photos had to come down in her hospital room today, but they came down for the right reason and we are so happy to get her home.”

As she left the hospital, there were hugs, goodbyes and many tears.

The family paid fulsome praise to all the doctors, nurses and staff at the hospital for the care given to Patricia.

Pat Ingle said: “There are so many people that can hold their head up and be proud of the care and the treatment of Patricia and they should be so proud. She has a message on the front of her top, ‘I Am Somebody’ and I am the father of somebody special.”

A party with 110 invited guests is planned in Murroe. Patricia is then due to move to the Oxford Centre for Enablement in England for specialist rehabilitation later this month. Her parents will stay in Oxford to be with her.