POSITIVE UPDATE…Ann McGrath
THERE was better news this week on the condition of popular Fermanagh Ladies GAA chairman, Ann McGrath, pictured, (53) who sustained life-threatening injuries in a tractor accident near her farmhouse home in Tullystranadego, Garrison on Thursday, 15th May.
She is currently in a ‘stable’ condition at the Royal Victoria Hospital where she has been placed an induced coma to help with her breathing.
Her brother, Gabriel, speaking to the Herald on behalf of his brother, Gerry (Ann’s husband) said that his sister-in-law, ‘an active farmer’, sustained broken/crushed ribs and swollen lungs in the accident.
“Thankfully, her head and spine were unaffected. which is a big plus, but it’s been a very worrying time. On the Saturday afternoon following the accident, we were not given any hope at all. The consultant met us at 4 o’clock and said she might not even make Saturday evening.
“They were trying to put oxygen into her lungs but, thankfully, at 10 o’clock that night, she stabilised a bit and she has been holding that since. She may not have got an awful lot better, but thankfully she’s no worse.”
Gabriel revealed that Ann had ‘trailed herself’ all the way from the accident scene to her home to ring him and his wife, Siobhan for help.
“Gerry wasn’t there at the time, but we were only half a mile away, and a neighbour came on the scene as well. He hadn’t realised what had happened. The tractor was left standing in the lane, and he was going to ask her to move it.”
Ann was then rushed to the South West Acute Hospital and from there to the Royal.
“We’re just taking it a day at a time. She’s probably going to need an operation but, at the moment, she’s stable.
“We were warned that the first 3-5 days were crucial but, thankfully we’re over that.”
Gabriel said the family deeply appreciated the many prayers being said for his sister-in-law’s recovery.
“We had a (Church of Ireland) funeral in Kiltyclogher, and a member of the bereaved family rang Gerry to see if he’d mind her being prayed for.
“The other thing about Ann is she never bothered about medication, not even when she had the flu, so what medicine she gets has to be good. In fairness, everybody is doing all in their power, so it’s between that and the Man above.”
Ann, he said, had two main hobbies, farming and football.
For more than 20 years she has worked tirelessly in promoting ladies football in the county and in Ulster.
In her time, she played for Devenish Ladies and Fermanagh, is an ex-referee and former fixtures officer with the Fermanagh Ladies Committee and currently serves on the Ulster fixtures committee.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere