Little girl welcomed home to Limerick after spending over 500 days at Crumlin Hospital

ALMOST 18-months old, brave Sophie Mulligan has finally moved home to Limerick for the first time following a stay of over 500-days at Crumlin Hospital.

Apart from a previous two day visit home Sophie, and her parents, Melissa and Alan, have been living in the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) as she had spent every day since her birth as an inpatient at Crumlin Hospital.

Last week she finally made it home with her parents to Athea.

RMH provides accommodation and a caring, supportive environment for families whose children are seriously ill at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin.

RMH enables families, including siblings, to stay together and be involved in their children’s day-to-day life while they are long-term in hospital.

Sophie’s mother Melissa Mulligan said they did not expect to stay as long as 513 days when they first walked through the doors of RMH.

“We’ve been very lucky to have them [RMH]... The support they have given us has been absolutely amazing,” Ms Mulligan told RTÉ 2FM’s Breakfast show.

“If you’re having a down day there is always someone there to talk to you. Every evening we used to stop at the desk and have a chat. Whoever was on, were definitely late going home when we were passing through. They’ll get home on time now in the evenings anyway,” Ms Mulligan laughed.

Being able to take her focus off of day-to-day chores like cooking a meal and being able to have her full attention on Sophie was “everything” while staying at RMH.

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“Your meals are prepared for you every day. Myself and Alan, I think, have came home with a weight problem after them. We might be able to lose a few pounds now that we’re home in Limerick,” Ms Mulligan said, laughing.

Prior to their move back to Athea, RMH with the help of Sophie launched their appeal for National Hugging Day, which fell on Sunday, January 21.

As part of their ongoing hugging campaign, the charity is appealing to the public to send Barróg (the Irish for hug), a cuddly rabbit to someone special in their life. Barróg can be purchased on the charity’s web page and helps to support families whose children are seriously ill in hospital.

At the launch of the campaign, Ms Mulligan said: “It’s hard to describe how a house can mean so much to you but when you are faced with over 500 days in a hospital that is 250km from home you soon come to realise the importance of the basics; a roof over your head, a comfy bed, where your next meal will come from, a place to do your laundry, park your car, the list goes on and on.

“That is why we are delighted to support the wonderful work of RMH. It's such a natural fit for our values as parents.”