Cork swimmers take plunge for LauraLynn

From Youghal to Inchydoney Beach, enthusiastic sea dippers will be taking to the water this Sunday, December 22, in aid of LauraLynn - Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.

The centre is a worthy cause - offering a specialist paediatric palliative care services to babies, children, and young people across Ireland with life-limiting conditions.

So, what kind of temperatures will the dippers tip their toes into?

“Right now, the sea water around the East Cork coast and surrounds, is between 10C and 12C,” says Peter Murphy, a swimmer for all seasons.

“Dip for LauraLynn is a wonderful opportunity for people to come together and make a splash for charity, swimming at the spot of their choice. It is a fun event for all the family, for friends and neighbours who, at the same time, are raising vital funds for a children’s hospice charity.”

Marie Lynch, Community Assistant Director of Nursing at LauraLynn, is responsible for the Cork hub.

“I don’t take on the water,” she adds hastily. “It’s not for me! But I do admire anyone that does!

“Sea swimmers achieve great things, and we have a great team of people here in Cork doing the challenge that are supporting children with life-limiting conditions.”

Marie’s team of hospice nurses and therapists achieve great things.

“In 2023, LauraLynn extended their facility of community care, and our team was established here in May 2022, in Mallow,” says Marie.

“There are seven nurses on the team as well as a music therapist and a play therapist who all work closely together.

“With Munster’s large population, the hub supports families in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford and south Tipperary. Having a hub here in Mallow alleviates the burden of travelling to the Dublin centre to avail of supports for sick children.

“Here, we collaborate with a range of services including palliative care teams, CUH and CHMH supports, that all get to know the families going through an end-of-life journey at the time. These supports are big pillars for LauraLynn here in Cork.”

Marie says LauraLynn is a happy place to work.

“People often think being associated with it would be sad. But in fact, it is a happy place.

“LauraLynn is focused on helping the child and their parents live the best life they can given the time they have left. The family know that their child’s life is limited. Living well and dying well is what we try to help happen.”

Its valuable services achieve great things.

“The children, 80 of whom we supported last year, get to know the nurses who regularly visit their homes,” says Marie. “The nurses not only support the child, they also support the family - parents, siblings, grandparents. We call it our Laura-Lynn family.”

The nurses are amazing people. It takes a dedicated team to provide their round-the clock utmost care to a precious child who has a life-limiting condition. They make all the difference to a challenging situation.

“The parents are amazing as well, who look after their terminally ill child 24/7,” says Marie. “They deserve a break. They deserve to have time to try and keep healthy, to try and keep positive for their sick child.

“The nurses and the family work as a unit. They work together supporting the sick child as a whole family unit.”

Sarah Gibson is one such parent who knows all about the mighty team effort that is required to support a terminally child. She lost her first-born Martin almost three years ago.

He was a great character. “He had that glint in his eye, you know? He had vivid blue eyes. Martin communicated through his eyes.”

His prognosis was poor when he was born to Sarah and Marty on July 3, 2010.

“We were told that he had days, maybe weeks to live,” says Sarah. “It was heartbreaking. My world turned upside down. Marty’s world turned upside down.”

The young first-time parents faced a life-changing uncertain future.

“It was very emotional,” recalls Sarah, who is from Wicklow and loves visiting her best friend in West Cork.

“We tried to find the joy in having our first-born while not knowing how long we’d have him with us. Martin was dependent on oxygen. He was tube-fed from birth. He had no gag reflex, so he was in danger of choking. Martin had to be suctioned around the clock.”

Time meant everything.

“It was minute by minute for us,” says Sarah. “I never left his side.

“Martin came home from Crumlin for a short period in late 2010, which was a joyous period. It was equally frightening though when he got very sick at home and returned to hospital for surgery.”

It was a whole new world for the Gibsons.

“Crumlin became our world,” says Sarah. “For the first year of Martin’s life, we spent our time in and out of hospital. I gave up work and Marty took time off work.”

LauraLynn became a big part of the child’s world too.

“In 2011, LauraLynn opened,” says Sarah. “That opened up doors for us. The help and support we received from LauraLynn from the day it opened was second to none.

“Martin had many stays at Laura-Lynn. The Butterfly Room where he was cared for by dedicated hospice nurses was really lovely. The atmosphere there is really homely.”

Sarah remembers lovely times spent with her son.

“His eyes would light up every time he went there. I knew by his expression that he loved it there. I learned as a mother how to pick up and share his emotions. It was pure magic. Being non-verbal, Martin and I shared a special bond of understanding.

“I’d often get an unexpected smile from Martin when he reacted to something. It was a bit of magic.”

Sarah’s blue-eyed boy made an impression, and he made lasting impressions.

“I still go to LauraLynn,” says Sarah. “The nurses and staff there often speak about Martin. The hospice nurses treated Martin like he was their own child.”

“Martin had loads of other mammies besides his real mammy!” says Sarah. “The way that he was looked after by the nurses and support workers at LauraLynn was just unbelievable. Nobody realises what the staff do at LauraLynn unless they step in there. No words I say can give enough credit to them.”

Sarah gives great credit to those dipping their toes into the sea for LauraLynn on December 22.

“I think they are amazing people, and I want to thank them for supporting LauraLynn.”

Sarah and Marty often speak about their beloved son.

“We avail of the bereavement service that LauraLynn provides for grieving parents, grandparents and siblings,” says Sarah.

“Loved ones grieve for a lost child all their lives. You are always reminded of the child you lost when you see your friend’s child starting school or doing things like scoring a goal at a match.”

Grief is not a nice place to be. “You go to that place with constant reminders,” said Sarah.

She reminds herself often that she has another equally precious son.

“I don’t want Patrick to see his mammy sad. I put on a brave face.”

Sarah reminds me of what a lovable rogue her oldest son was.

“When Martin’s younger brother Patrick asked for a treat, I would turn to Martin and ask if Patrick should have one,” says Sarah. “Martin would wiggle his little finger to give the go-ahead.

“I do like talking about him,” adds Sarah. “Even though I’ll probably get a little wobble after talking to you about him - but that’s OK.

“Sometimes, I’d love to know what Martin would have said to me if he could speak to me,” says Sarah.

I think I know what he would say. ‘I was lucky you were my mammy.’

For further information please visit lauralynn.ie