A 13 year old girl who lost both of her legs in a farming accident in West Cork on July 2nd last is continuing “to make wonderful progress” and is able to get around hospital in her motorised chair.

BY OLIVIA KELLEHER

Féile O'Sullivan has had over sixty operations since a tractor accident occurred in her native Allihies just days before her birthday.

She was airlifted to hospital in Cork the aftermath of the accident. A week she was transferred to Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

Her mother Maureen O’Sullivan has told Virgin Media News that getting home for Christmas is now the priority for her daughter.

“Oh absolutely (it is). That would be everything come at once because in our eyes Christmas was never coming. So I think yes that would be amazing.

There was so many really hard days of not knowing and then being “what if, what if, what if?’ Not knowing if she (Féile) would make it

. There was obviously some really, really difficult days that incidents happened while she was here. So, it was always a waiting game. That is the difficult part.”

Maureen told journalist Zara King that in many ways the decision to amputate was taken out of their hands by the reality of the situation Feile was facing.

“It wasn’t really a decision as such.  It was her body decided is the way we would put it. Unfortunately, there was an awful lot of necrotic tissue that meant that the decision was no longer ours. So it was either save her or save the legs. So the decision was fairly easy.”

The proud mother said that Féile is focusing on her future. She is already planning what she is going to do in the months and years ahead.

“That (going forward) drives her completely. She is like ‘Oh my God when I go home I will be able to do that with them and Mum I’ll be able to chase them in my chair.’ This kind of thing. Or they (her friends) could even hop on the chair with her. Or they will walk the dogs.

There has never been a moment of ‘Oh I won’t be able to go there or I won’t be able to do that.’ Which is kind of interesting. And I keep going ‘maybe she just doesn’t realise?’ But she does.

She has thought of everything. She has thought of more things than I have.”

Maureen says that her daughter is already considering the possibility of taking part in the  Paralympics having received countless messages of support from top Irish athletes.

She added that Féile and the family really appreciate all of the fundraising and support they have received since the accident.

“I think it is really important to highlight and thank everyone. There will never be words to say how grateful we are for everything.”

Meanwhile, an update on the Go Fund Me page for the youngster indicates that regaining that little bit of independence has lifted Feile’s spirits.

“She is truly enjoying feeling more like herself again.

More than anything, Féile is deeply grateful. Grateful to be here, grateful for the incredible care she’s receiving, and grateful for every single person who has supported her, sent love, donated, or kept her in their thoughts.

Your kindness is helping her through every step of this journey, and she feels it every day.

While she is progressing beautifully, the road home is still a long one. There is a lot of healing and hard work ahead, and she’s facing it with remarkable courage and determination. Knowing she’s not facing it alone makes all the difference.

Thank you all, from the bottom of her heart and ours, for being on this path with her. Your support truly means the world.”

Close to €762,000 has been raised for the appeal. A four person fundraising committee for Féile met for the first time on the August bank holiday weekend with the response being “phenomenal” since then.

Féile will require additional surgery and intensive rehabiliation, specialist care, physio therapy, emotional support and home adaptations.

She has been described as being full of life, energy and fun — a “pure messer” who adores dogs and horses.

Her family say that the accident hasn’t changed who she is but has instead “changed what she now needs.”

Donations can be made to the appeal for the “true warrior” at at https://gofund.me/6ba19485

Feile and her mother Maureen