Clare teen with spinal stroke has strong bond with Dubs star

THE parents of a Cross teenager, who suffered a rare spinal stroke that occurs in an estimated one in three million, have revealed the strong bond he developed with Dublin Gaelic football All-Star, Dr Jack McCaffrey.

In an extensive interview with the Clare Champion, Diane Roche admitted when they first met Jack McCaffrey in Temple Street Hospital, they didn’t recognise him with his face mask, but were quickly informed by a nurse who he was.

Her son, Liam was paralysed at the time from his neck down before he received extensive physiotherapy and other treatment in Temple Street and the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dublin placed him on a strong road to recovery.

“Liam would be slagging Jack that Dublin senior footballers weren’t playing well and joked Jack would have to come out his retirement. When we saw Jack coming out of retirement, I said to Liam, you put that idea in his head.

“I used to say to Liam – ‘would you ever think that Jack McCaffrey would know who Liam Roche is’ and we would be laughing away at this.

“Jack would come into the ward, sit down and ask Liam if he had experienced any changes or improvements that week. He took a great interest in Liam.”

His father, Patrick outlined spinal strokes are extremely rare, only 1% of strokes are spinal, and at 15 years of age Liam’s chance of it ever happening to him was 1 in 3 million.

Jack McCaffrey has been a key part of Dublin’s all-conquering Gaelic football side, winning five All-Ireland senior football championship medals before he took a break from the game.

When the 29 year-old returns to Dublin footballers in the New Year, it will be just under three years since his previous intercounty appearance.

McCaffrey was named Man of the Match in the 2018 and 2019 All-Ireland SFC finals, finishing as top scorer (1–3) from open play.

Patrick recalled Jack was really determined to find out what had caused Liam’s clot.

“Jack had to go over the Liverpool to finish his medical training before Liam left Temple Street. He went around the whole hospital looking for Liam

“From a sporting perspective, Jack said he really wanted to try and find out what had caused Liam’s clot. The chance of the clot going into his spine was one in nearly four million.

“Liam could have gone home that evening and gone to bed before the clot went to his brain or heart. He would have been dead. He was lucky and unlucky.

“Before the fall, Liam had played very well in two games for Avenue United that week. When John O’Malley rang me a day after it happened, he couldn’t believe it.”

Diane remembered Jack, a passionate Arsenal fan, used to call up specially every week to the Top Flats ward to engage in banter with Liam, who is a fervent Manchester United fan.

“Jack and Liam would be slagging about Arsenal and United. If United were beaten, Jack would come to the glass door and make hand signals to Liam – three nil or whatever score United had lost while holding his side laughing.

“Liam would say ‘go away Jack’. They had great craic. The nurses would often say, Jack was up looking for you Liam, he will follow you down to physio in half an hour.

Jack could relate to Liam because of their sports background. Liam would be telling him how his parents often handed over their children at the side of the road to attend training.
This reminded Liam of his own family whose sister is very sporty.

Before Jack left for Liverpool, he said I really admire Liam because if that had happened at his age, I would not have handled it the way Liam has.

Jack said any time I went in to see Liam and asked him how he was he said “I am grand”. Jack made a point of coming around to see Liam,” she said.

Liam’s classmates didn’t believe he had met the Dublin GAA star until Diane took a photograph to prove it.

Despite numerous blood tests conducted by Jack, Diane admitted they never found out what caused Liam’s clot and noted he wasn’t at high risk of a stroke and there were no genetic factors.

When the FAI posted a video of Liam getting a jersey from Republic of Ireland veteran, James Mc Clean, it went viral, prompting Jack to proclaim, “Liam there is no escaping you, my phone was hopping all night.”

Diane said they met lovely people along their rollercoaster journey. “Liam knows how much he is loved by so many people. We are really proud of the effort he has made to recover.

Patrick recalled members of Naomh Eoin team sent Liam a hat, top and signed jersey when he came home last Christmas.

“Everyone has been brilliant and so supportive. We are really grateful for all the help,” she said.

Last April, Liam linked with Bohemians Soccer Club from his laptop in Cross where he was brought virtually as the team mascot in the dressing room and the pitch via a robot on wheels where he spoke to the manager and players.