Lighting up lives in Ballyjamesduff

PRIZE Family hit by stroke win tree for community

Ballyjamesduff was lit up with a 30 foot Christmas tree last Friday, thanks to local woman, Jennifer Brady McGowan who shared her family's heartbreaking story on a radio show, writes Michelle Taite.

The mother of two won the Christmas tree for the town on the Jennifer Zamparelli show on 2FM. The presenter asked the young mother why she wanted to gift the town of Ballyjamesduff the impressive tree.

Jenny explained: “Ballyjamesduff has helped me in the last six months since my husband has had a stroke. They’ve all rallied around me and they’ve been a great support and the community spirit came alive. I wanted to give something back so that’s why I entered the competition.”

The McGowan family were thrown into a whirlwind of hospital appointments and surgeries earlier this year as husband and father, Jason, suffered a horrific stroke at just 37 years old.

While the tree was being lit up on the town square, Jason was undergoing brain surgery in hospital in Dublin.

“The surgery went really really well and he’s hoping to get transferred back to the national rehabilitation hospital later today. We're just waiting on a phone call now today to see if he can get a place back over there,” says his loving wife Jenny.

Jason suffered a major stroke on April 29 of this year, an incident which left him in a coma while his family feared for his life. The young man suffered brain damage to his frontal lobe.

“He has travelled from being in a coma in Beaumont hospital to me being told he’ll never walk again to him walking now with a stick and he’s able to talk. He remembers everything, which is a miracle and he’s doing amazing,” reveals Jenny of his recovery.

“He needs intense rehabilitation, it’s going to start from now in the National Rehabilitation Hospital,” she adds.

Prior to his stroke, Jason was in great health, making the entire incident an even bigger shock for himself and his family.

“He was absolutely completely fine and I say it to all my patients in the salon, you just don’t know what tomorrow’s going to bring and count each day as a blessing and make sure that those who matter the most to you, you tell them every day that they matter and never go to bed on a row because you never know what you’re going to be faced with tomorrow.”

Now the family are getting ready for a very different Christmas, while Jason continues his recovery in hospital. The couple have two sons Jamie (14) and Evan (10).

“He is very much missing all of the little things that he would have been doing with the kids, may it be Christmas markets or getting the lights down from the attic or getting the kids' Christmas list done, he’s missing all that but we’re trying to include him as much as we can.”

However, Jason received his own share of Christmas cheer when he heard that his wife won the tree for the town.

“He was amazed, he was crying. He was so upset that he couldn’t make it but it really made his day to see that whole town in force because of the lights.

“Jason's been an avid fundraiser for the last 15 years for Temple Street Hospital and he’s a route sixty-sixer, so it’s nice for him to have that community spirit given back to him.”

The Christmas tree was turned on as part of a 'Light-up Party' sponsored by 7UP Free.

“It was amazing, the whole town came out. It really lifted everybody’s spirits and all the kids were out dancing and it was really nice that everyone got into the Christmas mood again. It was brilliant, very emotional. It was so nice to see everyone out and enjoying themselves and getting everyone into the Christmas spirit, tears were flying but it was good, they were happy tears.”

While Jenny was supposed to switch on the lights, it didn't exactly work out that way.

“I couldn’t reach the button, which was really funny because I’m such a short person. So I had to get my tall friend to press the actual button. It was very funny.

“It was absolutely amazing. It’s nice to give a bit of sparkle to the town especially when it’s dark and dreary at the minute. It’s nice to uplift everyone and say thanks. Every time we see that tree, it’s just like a little spark in us. It's amazing.”