Limerick woman who suffered horrific burns starts campaign to give something back

By David Raleigh

A Limerick woman who was engulfed in flames while lighting a bain-marie has begun a campaign to raise funds for the National Burns Unit in Dublin where she received life-saving treatment.

Joanne McMahon, a qualified nurse from Castlemahon, Co Limerick, didn't realise there was an open flame on the bain-marie (a small water bath used for keeping food warm) when she threw methylated spirits onto it on May 30, 2014.

The front of her body, including her face, neck and hands, were engulfed in a ball of fire.

The mother-of-five was initially airlifted from her home to Cork University Hospital, and then transferred to the National Burns Unit at St James's Hospital in Dublin, where she spent a month in an induced coma, and a total of 131 days re-learning how to walk and swallow.

"I went to sleep in Cork on the 30th of May and I woke up in Dublin on the 8th of July," Ms McMahon said, speaking in her first interview since the horrific accident 18 months ago.

Thankful to be alive, Ms McMahon alongside her husband Mike and life-long friend Liam Woulfe, have set up the Joanne McMahon Thanksgiving Fund.

"My ultimate aim is to give back to the burns unit. I wasn't familiar with the burns unit until I ended up there myself. Their care from the early acute stage to now and through to rehabilitation has been outstanding," she said.

Ms McMahon who faces further surgeries and ongoing physiotherapy added: "We would just like to help the unit, so that other people in the future, like myself, who never expected to end up there, will continue to get the most advanced care available."

Joanne with husband Mike McMahon (right) and friend Liam Woulfe (left). Picture: Press 22

Her husband Mike, said the burns unit staff gave him "a shoulder to lean on".

"They were very compassionate to me when Joanne went in there. She was in a coma and the staff were very understanding - (and) they are to any family that goes in there with a loved one who is seriously ill," he added.

The couple also thanked their extended family, neighbours and friends, as well as schools in Castlemahon and Newcastle West, for helping to support their five children while Ms McMahon was receiving critical hospital care.

The fundraising drive will be launched next Monday night at 8pm in Castlemahon community hall, and will culminate 131 days later - representing Ms McMahon's period of full time hospital care - with a walk, run and a cycle in Castlemahon on April 17.

To donate online visit everydayhero.com.