‘I'd give these ICU nurses medals’ - Mayo man back from the brink

It’s been a whirlwind six weeks for Ballyhaunis man Joe Freeley. 

His eight children were told to come urgently to see him as he was told he wouldn’t make it. 

His daughter Mary flew back from Australia and his eldest daughter Martine flew home from France to see him one last time. 

His emergency surgery was delayed so they could all see him. 

When Joe's son Patrick urged him to visit their local GP six weeks ago, neither could have imagined the life-threatening ordeal that would follow. What began as persistent stomach pain quickly escalated into a medical emergency that would see Joe spend 41 days fighting for his life in intensive care.

"I wasn't feeling great for a few days, and I kept putting off going to the doctor," Joe recalls. "When I got to the stage where I was in such pain in my tummy one day, my son insisted I go to our local GP."

The GP's response was immediate. After taking Joe's blood pressure, he said without hesitation: "Straight to hospital."

A race against time

At the hospital's A&E department, despite a queue of patients ahead of him, Joe was taken in rapidly for assessment. What doctors discovered was critical—a perforated bowel and hernia that required emergency surgery.

The situation was so grave that medical staff contacted Joe's family with devastating news: they didn't think he would survive. His daughter flew urgently from Australia, another from France, while his six sons, all based in Ireland, rushed to be by his side.

"The surgeon actually delayed the surgery because he wanted to give my family an opportunity to see me," Joe explains, his voice reflecting the gravity of that moment.

The second battle

Joe survived the initial operation, but his ordeal was far from over. Three or four days later, he took a dramatic turn for the worse. Once again, his family received a heartbreaking call, this time, doctors gave Joe just a 20% chance of survival.

"The surgeon waited for two of my sons to arrive before the second operation," Joe says. "My daughters had already returned to Australia and France at this stage. They were told I had a 20% chance and that I was a very sick person."

Joe lost four to five days of his life to a coma, kept alive on life support as medical teams fought to save him. 

When he finally regained consciousness in ICU, the relief was palpable. "One of the nurses actually had tears in her eyes," Joe remembers. "She said, 'John, I didn't think I'd see you again.'"

The Long road back

After 41 grueling days in intensive care in Mayo University Hospital, Joe has now moved to a ward—a significant milestone in his recovery. But the journey ahead remains challenging. He has lost 18.5 kilos and must relearn basic movements that most take for granted.

"My muscles are wasted from being in bed for so long," he explains. "I'm learning to walk again with a walking aid. Yesterday, I managed to take 10 steps. Today I managed to take 11. That's what it's like—an extra step every day."

Before his medical crisis, Joe had been active in retirement. Many wedding attendees in Mayo will be familiar with his trained doves from Joe Doves. When he asked medical staff about returning to work, he was told to expect at least another month of recovery in hospital, with a minimum of three months before he could consider taking on any commitments.

A Tribute to ICU Heroes

Throughout our conversation, Joe returns repeatedly to one theme: his profound gratitude to the ICU staff who saved his life.

"I owe my life to the doctors and the nurses in ICU. I honestly do," he says emphatically. "These are the unspoken heroes."

His admiration for the dedication of ICU staff is evident as he describes the level of care he received. "In ICU, there are eight beds, and there's a nurse designated to every single patient, 24 hours a day. They just sit with a computer at your bed, monitoring every second of the day—the slightest difference in temperature, blood pressure, heart rate—they're on it."

The experience was so profound that after his second operation, Joe made a difficult decision. He told the surgeon that no matter the consequences, he would not undergo a third surgery if complications arose.

"We've been here twice before," he told his family. "This is my decision."

Thankfully, that third surgery hasn't been necessary.

Family Support

Joe's recovery has been bolstered by the unwavering support of his large family. His wife Rose and his eight children—daughters Martine in France and Mary, also known as Tootsie, in Australia along with sons Michael , Joe Jr, John, Patrick, Paul and Mary, known as Tootsie—have rallied around their father.

The family's support is particularly crucial as Joe's wife, Rose, is also in very poor health, with one of their sons serving as her carer.

Looking Ahead

As Joe continues his recovery, taking one step at a time—literally—his story stands as a testament to medical expertise, the resilience of the human spirit, and the power of family support. From a 20% chance of survival to planning for the future, his journey offers hope to others facing similar battles.

"I'd give these ICU staff medals," Joe says. "The dedication, the amount of hours they work, constantly on their feet—they're truly remarkable."

For now, Joe focuses on those daily improvements: one more step, one more day of progress, one more moment of gratitude for the second chance he's been given.