Pat Connolly

The Illness

Hi everyone. As many of you already know, over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year, Pat became extremely ill. He was admitted to Bantry General Hospital with severe food poisoning, but whilst in hospital Pat’s condition deteriorated to Axonal Guillain-Barre Syndrome. This is an extreme auto immune condition, where the body’s immune system attacks and damages its own nerves, causing severe weakness and paralysis.

Pat was immediately transferred to the ICU in Cork University Hospital (CUH) for treatment and spent nearly 4 months in CUH. At the end of November, Pat was transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire and is due for discharge at the start of April to rehabilitate from home.

When Pat was admitted to the ICU in CUH he was paralysed on both his arms and his legs. Progress has been made to his arms whereby they have regained a lot of their movement, albeit are still very weak. Pat’s legs have thus far made less progress and have little movement, and he is confined to a wheelchair.

Pat’s medical team are optimistic that with time and continuing specialist physiotherapy that he can make a decent recovery. The overarching plan is that when Pat makes significant future recovery, he will be readmitted to the NRH for a second time to advance his recovery further. Whilst Pat has spent 8 months in hospital, it is clear that he still has a significant recovery journey ahead of him.

Life Prior to the Illness

Pat enjoyed family life with his wife and 11-year-old daughter. He enjoyed very active weekends. He loves nothing more than working in the garden, doing home projects and playing occasional golf.

He has been employed with BAM for the last 26 years. He has been a dedicated and motivated employee and loves the cut and trust of delivering complex building projects and interacting with his work colleagues.

Pat lived a very full and active life and would love nothing more than to resume this.

Life Now

Pat has spent the past 8 months learning the basic tasks of living again, such as eating, washing and dressing himself. These are things many take for granted.

He has been extremely dedicated to his recovery and spends every free moment either in the gym, with his therapy team or independently working out. Pat has been dealing with this diagnosis with a positive mindset and is extremely determined to make a full recovery.

Reasons for the Fundraising

We are hoping to raise funds so that Pat can continue his road to recovery. The primary area that the funds are to be used for will be to pay for private specialist neuro physiotherapy that Pat will need to continue the good work started in the NRH.

He is setting up a dedicated gym in his home and funds will go towards the purchase of accessible gym equipment and pay for home modifications.

As the length of time for his recovery is uncertain, he would like to avail of services and opportunities that can enhance his chances to regain full mobility

Many thanks for taking the time to read this, and for your support. It will mean the world to Pat if you can help in any way with his recovery.