Ciere McQuaid, from Irvinestown, who was badly injured in a motorbike crash in England
AN IRVINESTOWN woman living in England is lucky to be alive after being badly injured in a motorbike crash in the last few weeks.
Ceire McQuaid (27), remembers little of the crash last month that left her in intensive care – and doctors, she said, seem ‘genuinely amazed’ that she is both alive and walking several weeks later.
The former Mount Lourdes student has spent the last few weeks recovering from a range of injuries – and her knowledge of what exactly happened is based on what she has been told by friends and those on the scene.
“I actually remember nothing about the accident and only fragments of the entire day leading up to the crash,” Ceire told the Fermanagh Herald, “And I also struggle to remember anything from my time in intensive care other than waking and having my family, boyfriend and his family with me.”
From what she has been told, Ceire explained: “I hit a tree and landed on the road and was fortunate enough that a passer-by stopped to help and blocked the road with his truck to stop me being hit. He also called an ambulance. I was out with another rider who returned to find me lying face-down, unconscious, and not breathing, I can only imagine how terrible it must have seemed.”
First response vehicles arrived on the scene and an air ambulance flew Ceire from the crash scene to the Regional Trauma Centre at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford.
There, she was attached to a ventilator. She badly fractured four right ribs, and one left, lacerated and badly bruised her right lung, shattered her right shoulder blade and lacerated her liver.
“As horrible as it sounds I am incredibly fortunate that none of it should cause permanent damage and I’m told I should make a full recovery in time,” Ceire said.
“I feel terrible for the worry I have put my friends and family through and cannot express how much I appreciate all of the support and love that has flooded in. I am now at home recovering and being well looked after. Despite being in pain I’m making a decent recovery to the surprise of every consultant I see.”
“The accident still seems pretty surreal but most doctors seem genuinely amazed that I’m alive and walking the more I’m beginning to realise just how lucky I was.”
She went on: “It’s now about letting the body do its thing and keep the pain in-check while it does. I’m seeing specialists about specific areas like the lungs, the long term view is positive. It’s a slow process and I start physiotherapy next week for my shoulder but I have the most wonderful support and I know I’m incredibly fortunate so happy that everything will mend.”
While she can’t travel by plane for a few weeks, Ceire is hoping to return to Irvinestown and home to help her recovery.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the messages from people I grew up with in Irvinestown and it really means a lot to me and brightened a few tough days in hospital,” she added, thanking both the air ambulance ‘superheroes’ and the medical professionals who have helped her in her recovery.
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