Mayo woman recovering from surgery in Darwin is reunited with family members
There were joyous and emotional scenes in an Australian hospital ward some hours ago when injured Mayo social worker Eileen Gibbons and her daughter, Silvia, were reunited with members of her family from Co. Mayo.
Amid smiles and hugs, Eileen met her mother, Anne, and Marian Langan, one of her aunts, for the first time since her ordeal.
Last week the 38 year old sustained a gunshot wound after being shot by her ex- partner, Ralph Donald.
Thirty eight year old Donald is took his own life after the shooting.
After the long journey from Castlebar to the northern city of Darwin, Eileen’s mother, aunt and a cousin finally made it to Eileen’s bedside.
After the emotional preliminaries, the young mother, with one-year old Silvia on the bed beside her, posed for photos with her mother and aunt.
“Eileen is conscious and talking," Marian Langan revealed. “She was so happy to see us as we were to see her. We are so relieved that she is on the road to recovery."
Although her injuries are very serious, Eileen is on a route to recovery, but the process will take time.
According to family, the long term plan is to eventually bring the young mother and Silvia back to Ireland but she will require prolonged medical care in Australia before that can happen.
As part of her luggage, Marian Langan brought along a copy of this week’s print edition of Eileen’s local newspaper, the Connaught Telegraph.
The paper’s lead story focuses on the huge response to the GoFund me appeal launched by a relative, Enda O’Brien, to raise monies for Eileen’s medical care and subsequent rehabilitation.
“Eileen is deeply grateful for all the love shown her and Silvia shown her both at home in Ireland and in Australia following her ordeal”, Marian said.
Her relatives and friends launched a go-fund-me appeal last week to help reunite Eileen with her family and support her through a very difficult time.
It has raised €97,947 to date, significantly surpassing its target of €50,000. Over 2,000 donations have been made.
The family is overwhelmed by the generously of the support.