A Cork family are pleaing for help to get a desperately needed rehabilitation bed for their 31-year-old daughter.

Catherine O' Leary is suffering from what is called 'locked-in' syndrome, after suffering two strokes after a tumour was removed from her brain. Locked in syndrome is a condition in which a patient is aware and awake, but cannot move or communicate due to complete paralysis of nearly all voluntary muscles in the body. While Catherine is unable to speak, she has been communicating with her family, her partner and her son through blinking and can nod her head.

While Catherine currently has a bed at the Cork University Hospital, she only receives 20 minutes of speech therapy and 20 minutes of physiotherapy a day despite the fact that her doctors say she needs more treatment. Speaking to the Cork Independent, Cathy Cronin, a close friend of Catherine and her family said that the whole family are very frustrated and that while the doctors and nurses at CUH are outstanding, its just not enough.

She explained that because Catherine is deemed as "high-risk" there are only two hospital beds available to her in the country at the Nation Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire .However, according to Ms Cronin, Catherine may have to wait up to 14 months to be admitted at Dun Laoghaire. "Doctors and nurses have said that they feel that Catherine is ready for rehabilitation and the family are trying desperately to get her a bed," she said.

Cathy said that the family are at their wits end and are now considering trying to fundraise enough money to get her a bed in the UK. This would also involve a substantial cost in airlifting Catherine overseas. "Catherine's father Patrick was speaking with a doctor in the UK recently who said it might be possible to get her a bed in Glasgow and they are now looking at this in detail," said Cathy.

A number of fundraising events have been organised to raise money for this including a bed-push in Ballincollig by Pat Mc Evoy a fashion show in the Oriel House Ballincollig in mid August organised by Joy Twohig and an event in the Angler's Rest on August 30 organised by Melanie O Mahony to include a band, leg-wax and a BBQ.

For more information or to make a donation log onto www.catherineoleary.com . Donations can be made to The Catherine O'Leary Fund, Permenant TSB, North Main Street, Cork, Account: 12536790 Sort Code: 99 - 07 - 07.

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