Caitlin’s Story

Caitlin!

his Monday, 15 Garda from Greystones and Bray will be setting out to tackle 7 Walks In 7 Days.

Among them will be Garda Sean Gaul, and it’s for his 4-year-old niece, Caitlin, that this fundraising trek is happening.

We already reported on Caitlin’s Comeback last week, but, we thought now would be a good time to find out more about this remarkable little girl.

And so we asked her mum, Gemma, to chart Caitlin’s brave fight over the past year to reclaim her life…

No one could have predicted what the year 2020 would bring. We definitely didn’t.

April 4th 2020 was a normal Saturday. Another day in lockdown. A day like any other. Until it wasn’t.

It’s now a day that will be forever etched into our memories.

Our baby had a stroke.

Caitlin had turned three five weeks previously, along with her twin sister, Abbie. Their big brother Jack, then six, helped them to celebrate. There was no sign that anything extraordinary was about to happen. The three of them went to bed as normal on the Friday night. Little did we know that it would take Caitlin three weeks to wake up and she would be starting the battle of her life to do this.

When Caitlin was found unconscious, she was rushed to Wexford General Hospital, where they spent the day working on her. Trying to wake her up. Trying to stop the seizures that she was having. A CT scan showed a bleed on the brain. She was rushed by ambulance to the ICU in Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

While there Caitlin continued to suffer from seizures. They couldn’t stop them. We were sat down in a room; we were told the outcome didn’t look good and that Caitlin would need to be heavily sedated and ventilated. Caitlin had numerous scans and tests but still no one could explain what was going on and why she was so sick so suddenly.

A few days in Caitlin had the added complication of severe swelling, especially in her tummy and an uncontrollable temperature. Again no one could tell us why.

Two weeks after her date of admission Caitlin endured her first surgery. Most of her large and part of her small intestine had died. It needed to be removed. Caitlin had a stoma and a colostomy bag fitted. We continued to hear that the next 24-48 hours were critical. Caitlin continued to fight. During this time Caitlin was diagnosed with epilepsy. It continued to be very difficult to control her seizures. Three weeks and three days after her initial admission she was discharged to the ward. Here the hard slog started for her.

From here Caitlin’s strength, determination, sense of fun, mischief and independence started to shine through again. Caitlin needed to relearn to walk and talk again. She had lost the use of the right side of her body. Progress was slow and frustrating for her. Everything that she did would wear her out. She was exhausted easily and needed a lot of rest and support. The fatigue and tiredness was over whelming for her. She was starting from scratch, with major hurdles.

During this time Caitlin continued to have problems with the colostomy bag. Due to having a short bowel it repeatedly leaked and Caitlin ended up with severe burns to her tummy, side and part of her lower back. She needed 24-hour oxygen therapy on it to heal the burns in order for her to have a stoma reversal. Caitlin had her second surgery the end of May for this. Which again had her fighting off an infection and high temperatures.

She was incredibly determined to do everything possible for her recovery.Caitlin started to learn to roll, sit, crawl and move again. She did it all with giggles and fun. Along with a lot of help from the incredible therapists’ nurses and doctors in temple street. She stole a few hearts along the way and they hers.

Caitlin was eventually able to sit in a chair, leave her room and go to the therapy rooms, or for a walk around the empty corridors. She smiled, waved and blew kisses to those who she came into contact with her. There is more than a few of the amazing hospital staff who would get to know her and stop for a quick hello and check in. Little did they know how happy that made her and in turn, us.

We continued to live in the hospital, taking turns to go home to visit Jack and Abbie. The days turned into weeks. The weeks to months and then thankfully Caitlin was just discharged to go home in August. At this stage Caitlin was standing for very short times with help. She was getting this from Jack and Abbie as well. She wasn’t having this, she wanted to keep up with them. She quickly started to take a few steps independently and she kept going.

In January of this year Caitlin was lucky enough to get a placement in the National Rehab Hospital. There she spent eight weeks receiving intensive therapy. Again, she progressed well and exceeded goals set for her.

Somehow, we have ended up almost a year later. Caitlin has a long road behind and ahead of her. Her recovery is ongoing and will be for many years into her future. No one can predict an outcome. But Caitlin has exceeded everyone expectations of what she would achieve every step of the way. Caitlin is now walking, using her right arm cautiously and getting her point across very well as to what she wants, or more importantly doesn’t want!

Caitlin has started preschool and loves spending time around other children. She continues to amaze us with her strength. She is a miracle. Words cannot describe how proud we are of our three amazing children. They have not only survived the last year but they have shown their strength, resilience, sense of fun and love for each other.

We continue our journey, but we continue it on together.

You can donate to Caitlin’s Comeback right over here.