Limerick community rallies for mother-of-five with motor neurone disease

FOR A BRIEF moment in the morning, when she wakes up and opens her eyes, Carol Liston O’Connor’s experience of life is just like everyone else's.

The moment is fleeting, however, as reality hits.

Carol, 42, from Broadford is fighting a battle most people will never experience.

The mother-of-five, who, three years ago, was a teacher who enjoyed GAA, cycling and was an all-around active individual is now wheelchair-bound and requires round-the-clock care.

In 2022, Carol was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), a condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that worsens over time.

Only 40 at the time, Carol’s world was turned upside down, and, in a few short years, her life had completely changed.

“I can’t get out of bed by myself, I can’t clean myself - every day is a struggle,” Carol said.

As this horrible disease has progressed, experiences once taken for granted - the cold rain on her face during a hotly-contested final, the rush of dopamine as she lifts her young child above her head on a warm summer’s eve, or a simple stroll on a brisk spring morning - would all become memories for Carol.

But anyone who knows Carol will tell you that her strength of character is second to none, and now, with her lived experience of a life-changing event, Carol offers advice to those who may be drifting through life without ever taking the time to stop and smell the roses.

“You have to live every day being grateful for what you have because you never know what may happen,” Carol says.

Carol’s husband Liam, 43, is a self-employed plumber who has had to sacrifice much work to stay home and care for Carol.

Together, the couple have five children: Ellie-Mai, 11, Molly nine, Liam-Óg seven, and twins Mikie and Paddy, aged four.

Carol herself was a secondary school teacher at Desmond College in Newcastle West, where she remains a well-loved character among the students and staff alike.

She also played with the Athea ladies football team, and, when she wasn’t on the pitch herself, she could often be found coaching and working in official positions in various GAA clubs across the county.

“I never stopped, I was always on the go, and now I can’t do anything,” Carol said.

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“This has left a huge void in my life. All of that is gone,” she added.

A reflection of her resilience is that despite her diagnosis and challenges, she is currently still the chairperson of Dromcollogher-Broadford Coiste na nÓg.

The years of work Carol has put into the various communities in which she is part of has not gone unnoticed.

According to Carol, friends, family and the general community in both Limerick and Kerry have shown immense compassion, hosting various drives and fundraisers for Carol and her family.

Originally from Athea, Carol has been living in Broadford for the last 15 years. Carol also has close ties with Finuge in Kerry, among a host of other parishes and townlands.

In an amazing example of how people can come together, a fundraiser set up on GoFundMe had raised €190,000 as of Thursday, March 7.

Several fundraisers have been organised for the coming weeks and months.

These include a fundraiser at Broadford’s St Patrick's Day Parade, in which money raised will go towards Carol’s care, a poker tournament at Nellie's Bar in Dromcollogher, and a climb of Croagh Patrick - along with many more.

A concert featuring Liam O'Connor and Brian Kennedy, Susan Browne and The BYC Studio Singers gig, which has already sold out, and a replay of the County Championship clash from 2003 between Athea and Dromcollogher will all take place in the coming weeks and months.

“We are blown away by the help we are getting from everyone,” she added.

The money raised will be used for expensive treatments which will try and reduce the impact MND has on Carol’s life.
Despite the hardship she faces, Carol remains upbeat and resilient - spending as much time as she can with her friends and family.

Those who wish to support Carol’s family can do so by donating to the GoFundMe here or by following the Fundraiser for Carol Liston O'Connor and Family Facebook page for dates and times regarding events.