Family launch fundraiser to bring mother home to Cork after she suffered brain bleed on holiday

Sean Ryan

A devastated family has launched a heartfelt fundraiser to bring their mother home from a holiday of a lifetime.

Maura Heffernan, originally from Co Clare but living in Togher in Cork city, suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage on Thursday, March 20th on the sixth day of her trip to Canada.

Unfortunately, she is not expected to recover from the incident.

Now, her family have launched an urgent fundraiser to bring her home so she can be around her loved ones and friends and get "the send off that she deserves".

Their campaign was set up just two days ago but has already raised over €26,000 and been shared widely online.

In a moving post on the go-fundme page, her daughter Lynda Mulvihill said’: "Our mum suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage on Thursday 20th March only 6 days into her holiday.

"Unfortunately, she will not recover from this. As you can imagine with rising costs of the hospital bills, bringing her home and to give her the best sendoff that she deserves we are making this plea to help us make this happen.

"Our family is so very appreciative of all your amazing support. Mum would be happy to know we are surrounded by such caring people.

"Unfortunately, we have had to up the fund request due to our brave mum continuing to fight longer beyond original expectations which is also having a knock on effect with the hospital bills continuing to rise.

"Once again, we appreciate and thank everyone who has already helped us to get this far’’. She added ‘’Mam is stuck in a nightmare and we need to be everything we can to get her home."

To date the fundraiser has raised almost €28,000 with 578 donations. The target for the fundraiser is €50,000.