Dream visit for young Dubs

A DREAM came true for Cabra brothers Jake (6) and Charley (3) Murphy when they were guests of honour for a recent visit of victorious Dublin football players to the Mater Hospital.

The brothers were delighted when the players arrived at the Northside hospital’s St Vincent’s Ward where their much loved nan, Bernie Murphy, is a patient.

Brave Bernie, who was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer on Christmas Eve three years ago, has already gone through ten rounds of chemotherapy.

A proud mum to David, Keith and Louise, Bernie was delighted to have two of her grandchildren, who are big Dub fans, with her to greet Ger Brennan and Michael Darragh Macauley from the Dublin team who were visiting her.

The Dubs were at the hospital with teammates Jonny Cooper and Ciaran Kilkenny for a special visit to the day ward to help launch the Cancer Appeal at the Mater Foundation.

Funds raised through thisnew appeal will be used to equip the new St Vincent’s Oncology Haematology Day Ward in the Mater. This new modern day ward will accommodate an estimated 8,633 patients who come through the ward using this national cancer service each year.

During the visit Ger Brennan said:

“We have all been on the high the past few weeks.

“Being here humbles you and makes you very aware of the reality of some people’s lives. It’s been very humbling to see the amazing work of the doctors, nurses and other staff here and the Mater strikes me as a very happy place with a great spirit.

“I really appreciate the work that the Mater Foundation is doing to improve patient care in the hospital and ask everyone to support the St Vincent’s Ward Appeal to ensure that cancer patients get the best care possible at a very difficult time in their lives.

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Speaking at the launch, Mary Moorhead of Mater Foundation said:

“Every day up to 45 people receive critical, lifesaving treatment in this day ward at a very vulnerable stage in their lives.

“The care on the ward is second to none, however the facilities are no longer suitable for the number of patients being treated and a new state-of-the-art facility is urgently needed.

“The Mater Foundation needs to raise e1.5million to equip the ward.

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While at the Mater, the Dublin footballers also visited the Spinal Injuries Unit and the Heart and Lung Transplant unit. Ms Moorhead said everybody at the hospital was delighted with the visit.

“The Mater Foundation is extremely grateful to the members of the Dublin team for their extraordinary generosity in giving so much time to the hospital,

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“Their warmth and genuine empathy with patients will be remembered for a long time to come and is hugely motivating for us all.

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