Ireland's 'Carers of the Year' tell their stories
Young carer ‘just looking out for my brother’
A brotherly love has secured the Young Carer of the Year title for a West Cork boy.
Donagh O’Sullivan from Glengarriff helps his family care for a younger brother, Diarmaid.
The 12-year-old was mortified when his mother Julie O’Shea told him he had won the national award for looking out for Diarmaid, aged 11,who suffers severe autism and is non-verbal.
Julie, who has three other boys aged 14 to 19, said all offer their help to Diarmaid but Donagh was exceptional — always doing a little bit extra for his younger brother who requires full-time care.
“Donagh was a bit put out when I told him he won the carer’s award. He does not see anything special about minding his brother,” she said.
Asked why he cared so much for Diarmaid, he simply replied: “He’s my brother.”
Diarmaid has global development delay and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome — a muscle disorder. His muscle tone is very weak in parts of his body so he uses a wheelchair.
“He walks a little bit at home and at school but he is not physically able to do much more,” said Julie.
Diarmaid is dependent on others for all his needs. Julie said Donagh was very good at helping him eat his meals and getting him ready for bed.
“Donagh is always looking out for Diarmaid. He just knows what Diarmaid wants. Every night before he goes to bed he will look in on Diarmaid to make sure he is cozy and comfortable,” said Julie.
“If Diarmaid is in pain and he can be with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, he can go from being happy to being cross in the space of half an hour. But Donagh always seems to know how he is before any of us.
“I think Donagh is just fabulous. He never complains or gives out or says he is missing out because of caring for Diarmaid. Once Diarmaid is happy, Donagh is happy.”
Donagh said Diarmaid was happy most of the time. “He likes playing with footballs. I would always pass the ball to him and he likes playing with water. He likes splashing around the bath.
“I can just tell when he is unhappy or needs something. I try and make him as happy as possible.”
Julie said Donagh was getting a very special present from Santa for putting up with all the fuss at the awards ceremony in Dublin yesterday — a PlayStation 4.
“Donagh loves playing video games and Diarmaid is quite happy to sit and watch him play. Diarmaid would be playing away with his ball beside him.”
Julie said her other sons often remarked that Donagh, unlike them, never knew life before Diarmaid.
“Donagh does not mindDiarmaid on his own but it is obvious that he likes looking after him.
“I really think there is a close bond between the two because there is only 15 months between them.”
Donagh, meanwhile, said Diarmaid always went to him when he wanted something. “I have to work out what it is but I never mind. He is my brother and I love him,” he said.
‘I know the pain my children are experiencing’
A mother of two children with brittle bone disease is Ireland’s Carer of the Year.
Jennifer Carroll from Ballyclare, Co Offaly, was one of 22 family carers from across Ireland honoured yesterday for their caring roles.
The ninth annual Carers of the Year Awards, hosted by the Carers Association in Dublin, celebrated the dedication and commitment of some 187,000 family carers and 6,500 young carers.
The awards were presented by broadcasters and patrons of the association, Mary Kennedy and Marty Whelan.
Jennifer is a single mother who provides full-time care for her two children, Alex, 8, and Ava, 3, who have osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic disorder where bones break and fracture easily.
Children and adults with this disorder also have muscle weakness, joint laxity, scoliosis, dental problems, and hearing loss.
Jennifer also has the disorder and has suffered 15 fractures, including both legs, both wrists, ribs, and skull.
Alex has suffered a number of fractures to his ribs, skull, legs, and arms, and is waiting for an operation on his arm during which telescopic rods will be inserted to straighten it.
Ava has had three fractures. She is a wheelchair user at present and is awaiting an operation on her femur when telescopic rods will be used to straighten her leg.
Jennifer travels with her children at least six times a month to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.
Both children attend the hospital for check-ups every six weeks. They have treatment every three months — infusions of pamidronate to strengthen their bones, bond density scans, and regular blood tests to monitor their treatment.
Jennifer’s daily routine includes getting Alex ready for school where he has a special needs assistant. Back home, Jennifer exercises with Ava to help prevent muscle weakness from sitting in her wheelchair.
Jennifer has to be especially careful with her children— a simple tumble, even on a carpeted floor, can cause a fracture.
“It is hard watching them cope with the same condition that I have. I know the pain they are experiencing. But they are also happy kids and they just deal with it,” she said.
“Hopefully, they will get better. There are different severities of the condition and they have the mildest type. They are lucky in one way, I suppose.”
Jennifer’s mother, Bernadette Johnson, nominated her for the carer’s award. “I think she appreciates all the hard work I do — it is a full time job looking after my children.”
Asked how she kept positive, Jennifer said she did not know any other life and just made the best of it.
“I would tell people going through tough times to hold their heads up, that they would get through it. Life is hard but at the end of the day there is the good side of it as well.”
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