Irish Echo News

The Irish communities of Melbourne and Sydney have rallied in support of a Cork woman who has been in a Melbourne hospital since November of last year.

Siobhán Collins, 36, had just returned home from work at the Celtic Club in Melbourne on November 23 when she suffered a brain aneurism.

Her partner , Dunmanway native Dan Cronin, 37, came home to find her unconscious and rushed her to St Vincent’s Hospital where she suffered a second aneurism.

As a result, the decision has now been made to fly Siobhan home to Cork in the hope that familiar surrounds might help her along the road to recovery.

“She’s still the same unfortunately. There is no communication there at all and she has zero alertness,” Dan told the Echo.

“Things are pretty bleak at the minute. It’s at the stage now that she needs people around her that she knows.

“She has what they call lock-in syndrome, but it’s hoped that the environmental stimulation of having her family around her might help.

“I hadn’t a thought of taking her home, to be honest.  I really thought we could ride it out here.

“We were really trying not to push it, but it’s come to the stage now where she needs to have more people around her.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, it could take a couple of years, but it’s obvious now that this is the only thing we can do.

“The conclusion was that the best thing we could do was to bring her home.”

The couple first met at the Cock ’n’ Bull in Sydney in 1995 where Siobhán, originally from Newmarket, was working as a barmaid.

The pair went home to Ireland for 10 years soon afterwards, but returned to Australia in 2007.

They are very well known within the Irish community, particularly in Sydney where they both lived for several years.

And now their friends have come together to host joint fundraisers in Sydney and Melbourne.

Both functions will take place on May 16, with the Celtic Club hosting the Melbourne event and the Pine Inn holding the Sydney one.

Although not yet officially confirmed by medical staff, it is understood that a specialist may have to travel with Siobhán on the journey home, adding extra expense to the already daunting ordeal.

It is estimated that at least $50,000 will be needed to transport her home safely.

Tickets for the Melbourne event are available through the Celtic Club in Melbourne on (03) 9670 6472 and tickets for the Sydney function can be got by calling Gerry Power on 0414 512 165.

Alternatively, you can contribute by bank transfer to St George bank. The BSB is 112 879 and the account number is 043612218.

by Aaron Dunne