COVID survivor – walk to remember

COVID-19 SURVIVOR MIKE’S JOYOUS REUNION WITH HOSPITAL STAFF

Limerick man Mike Moloney, who survived a gruelling 21-week hospital battle with COVID-19 had an emotional reunion with staff at University Hospital Limerick, when he and his family completed a symbolic 1km walk to the hospital to express their gratitude to the healthcare workers for placing Mike on the road to recovery. The family, from Knocakaderry in Co Limerick, were joined in their walk from Citygate Business Park to UHL by UL Hospitals Group CEO Colette Cowan, Dr Catherine Motherway and colleagues from the hospital’s ICU and High Dependency Units, laboratory and radiology staff and Operational Services personnel. Also in attendance were nursing and rehabilitation staff from St Ita’s Hospital, Newcastle West, where Mike spent a further eight weeks in rehabilitation under the care of Dr Margaret O’Connor and her teams. Mike’s experience with COVID-19 began in April 2020 when he tested positive for the disease. His 21 weeks in hospital included four weeks and six days on a ventilator, and he endured numerous complications, including pneumonia, sepsis and organ failure. One year on, the 1km walk was the final leg of an extraordinary 21 fundraising marathons - one for every week of Mike’s hospital stay - that Mike’s son Chris Moloney and daughters Sinead Moloney and Fiona Meehan, have organised and completed since February 2021, The walk to UHL was organised by the Moloney-Meehan family with the support of the UL Hospitals Group’s Patient Advocacy Liaison Service (PALS). “It has been a long road to recovery, but now I am back walking every day, I have started cycling, and I have also managed to play a little golf as well. This time last year, I couldn’t even walk,” said Mike. “I owe all of this to the staff at UHL, and to my physiotherapists Fiona Burke and Emma Enright and all the staff at St Ita’s in Newcastle West. I also have to thank Niamh Hogan and the PALS team for helping to keep me in contact with family with video and phone calls.”