Rebecca is one in a million

LITTLE Rebecca Lawlor from Tyrrellstown was among 14 stroke heroes honoured last week at the Irish Heart Foundation’s annual Life After Stroke Awards held in the Gibson Hotel at the Point Village.

The brave four-year-old was the youngest stroke champion to receive an award, and she certainly deserved the accolade.

In January this year Rebecca suffered a serious stroke which saw her spend a month in hospital followed by four months of intensive rehabilitation learning to walk again.

According to mum Irena, Rebecca’s recovery has been inspiring.

“Rebecca’s resilience and positivity has been nothing short of inspirational,

? the mother of three, said.

“I’ll never forget the day it happened. The children had had chicken pox in December but Rebecca didn’t really show too many signs at the time.

“Then one day in January she fell asleep in the middle of playing which is not like her, she’s usually full of beans.

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“We realised she had a temperature and when we placed her in a cool bath, she had a seizure so we called the ambulance.

Rebecca was rushed into Temple Street hospital on January 11 and moved to the national rehabilitation centre in Dun Laoghaire on February 7.

Throughout her hospital stay, she had to have scans and injections but she never once complained, not even when she was in a wheelchair.

“We were told her recovery would take a long time but it’s amazing what they can do,

? said Irena.

“By April Rebecca had started walking again. I never thought we’d get through it, but we did. She responded really well to musical therapy and we’re now closer as a family. I don’t think I’ve met anybody as brave in my life.

“Our Rebecca is one in a million.

?