Kind neighbors quickly raised over €20k to help John O’Callaghan, a Cork dad with a rare disease, adapt his home.
Friends and family raised over €20,000 fast. John O’Callaghan, from Cork, needs help and he has three kids. He got sick in 2022.
John has spinal motor neurone disease, an illness that hurts nerves. It affects the brain and spinal cord, making walking, talking, and eating hard. Breathing also gets tough.
The IMNDA helps a lot, and his wife and daughters also give support. John can stay home and get care because of them.
John’s health is getting worse now, so he needs even more care at home. They need to change the house and a wet room is needed, along with special equipment. He needs eye tech to talk.
The family wants a special car for John too. This way, he can leave the house while he still can.
Margaret Shanahan is a nice neighbor who made a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise €45,000. This money will help fix the house.
Margaret says John is a great neighbor and his illness has been hard on his family. It was a major shock to everyone. She said John wants to stay home for as long as he can. The family is going through a tough time now.
Anne and the girls care for John. The IMNDA and others help them too. John’s health has declined a lot, so he now needs more care. They plan to adapt his home.
It is John’s wish to live at home, building costs are set. The government approved some money, but they still need more funds for the changes. The family cares about John’s feelings too.
He needs a car made for his needs, which could help him get out. A drive by the sea would be great for him. This helps his mental health. Life is hard for the O’Callaghans right now.
With support, things can get easier and help from family and friends matters. He deserves to have his needs met.