More life-changing treatment for Swinford’s Róisín

ROAD TO RECOVERY?Róisín Tansey is pictured undergoing treatment on a lokomat on her recent visit to Kentucky.

Róisín jets off for more life-changing treatment


Ciara Galvin

FIVE-year-old Róisín Tansey and her mother Breda will be embarking on a second journey to the United States tomorrow (Wednesday) for more intensive therapy.
The Tanseys from Killasser, Swinford will once again make the trip to Louisville, Kentucky for more life-changing treatment for Róisín, who two years ago suffered a spinal-cord injury at the age of three-and-a-half after a simple fall on a sofa at her home.
Róisín and Breda spent three months in Kentucky earlier this year at the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute where Róisín underwent intensive rehabilitation each day. Having returned late last month, Breda, her husband Damien, and their family were faced with a tough decision on whether to embark on a further stint of treatment at the world- renowned institute.
“It was a terrible decision to have to make. We met wonderful people out there who were so kind to us, but it’s hard leaving again, leaving three kids with the youngest only four. We chatted to Róisín and said that maybe when the kids finish school we could get them out for a couple of weeks. She just wants us to all be together,” explained Breda.
Over the past two years the people of Swinford and Mayo have fundraised from white collar boxing to card games in order to raise the much-needed funds to allow Breda and husband Damien to give Róisín the chance to regain movement and regain independence. Some of the funds have already resulted in a gain of independence for Róisín.
“The extension for Róisín has given her independence. She used to have a small room and one of us always stays with her at night, with two beds, the equipment and everything it was difficult for her to get in with her wheelchair. Now she can go around her room in it and there’s a wash room which means we don’t have to bring her upstairs. We wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without everybody helping out,” explained Breda.

Treatment
Over the next three months Róisín will go through daily intensive rehabilitation which will include work on a treadmill-like machine called a lokomat. Along with this Roisin will also take part in a programme for her arms using electrical stimulation to promote movement, and a respiratory study.  
Each of the three month trips and stints at the treatment centre costs €40,000 and the team behind the Roisin Tansey Fund are working tirelessly to ensure that these costs are covered thanks to ongoing fundraising efforts.
“Only for everyone that has fundraised and helped and been so good we wouldn’t have this opportunity for her...We couldn’t turn down this opportunity, the doctors are very positive and have hope for her,” said Breda.

MORE The next major fundraising event for the Róisín Tansey Trust Fund is the Tochar Padraig Walk on June 20. For more information on the event contact James Keane on 087 9622946 or email james.keane@hotmail.com.