Limerick mother and daughter ready to cheer on cyclists in Tour De Munster cycle for Down Syndrome Ireland

LIMERICK mother, Louise Daly has worked tirelessly with families and her own as well through her work with the Limerick branch of Down Syndrome Ireland and will now support one of the largest fundraising events for the charity. 

The Tour de Munster is one of Down Syndrome Ireland’s largest fundraising events. The 600 km cycle will begin on August 10 with Limerick featuring as one of the stops on the first day. 

Each year families are joined with cyclists through an adoption process to better understand each other and be able to meet at the designated stops throughout Munster. 

Seven years ago Louise was told after 33 weeks of pregnancy that her daughter would be born with Down Syndrome. 

As soon as Ameilya was born she was faced with operations. While having a blockage in her gut, baby Ameilya also had a hole in her heart and died on the table for a number of minutes before doctors were able to resuscitate her. 

Louise said that “The doctor came out to us after the operation and said he only remembered two people in his lifetime that were able to stick with the 15 minutes of resuscitation. He knew that Ameilya was a warrior and she came back fighting.”

The family were then told more devastating news that Ameilya would not make it through the next 24 hours, which began the painful journey for them of not knowing when they would see their family again. 

After a traumatic three weeks in the neonatal unit in UHL, Louise was able to bring her baby girl home for the first time.

Through word of mouth Louise and her family were directed to speak to the Limerick Branch of Down Syndrome Ireland out in Castletroy. 

“As you can imagine, emotions were still high at this point and I remember going into the office and just crying and literally they just took me under their wing. 

We gained a family and we have made some wonderful friends through the organisation. Even when we have down days there is always someone at the end of the phone to pick you back up again.”

A few years later, Louise decided that she would take on the role as parent link with Limerick’s Down Syndrome Ireland branch and offer her experiences and help to other families who were faced with a similar situation to her when Ameilya was born.  

She now has 27 families under her guidance and is always there to offer support to any of the families that need it.

Louise and the rest of the Limerick committee at the Down Syndrome Ireland branch will be cheering on the thousands of cyclists when they leave King John’s Castle on August, 10.