Meelick rallies support for young woman in coma

Residents in Meelick have rallied to raise money for a 27-year-old woman, who remains in a coma following a serious car collision in the United States.
Nicole Ryan-Graham who grew up in Elton Court, Meelick, is facing the prospect of huge medical bills without the benefit of insurance following severe head injuries sustained in a recent car accident.
The mother-of-three, who has been
living in America for 18 years, lost her job as clerk in a courthouse in the first week of January while her health insurance ran out on February 3, five days before she was a passenger in a car involved in a serious traffic accident. She has three children Kendra (11), Katie (5) and Keslley, who is just 22-months-old.
Relatives, including her aunt, Leslie Dillon, spent a week at a hospital in Kansas and her mother, Caroline, and step-father, Lorcan, have remained by her bedside.
Although Nicole was taken off life support and intensive care on Saturday, she is still in a coma. At one stage, she opened her eyes for about 90 seconds but was unable to respond to a command.
Leslie said Nicole’s condition is very difficult for all the family.
“It is everyone’s worst nightmare,” she said.
A coffee morning was held in Meelick Tavern and a sponsored walk was well attended in last Sunday. A talent competition has been arranged at the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick for this Friday at 9.30pm to raise money for the family.
In the “Stars in Your Eyes” competition, 11 contestants are encouraged to dress up and perform a song from one of their favourite artists.
This event was organised by Tanith O’Brien and Leanne O’Driscoll who grew up with Nicole and were anxious to do something to help her desperate plight.
Tanith told The Clare Champion there has been a tremendous response to all the fundraising activities to date and hoped that between 400 and 450 people would attend the benefit night in the Greenhills.
Councillor Cathal Crowe will be one of the judges at the talent competition together with other personalities in the Mid-West including the wife of the Mayor of Limerick, Kevin Kiely.
“I was a former classmate of Nicole in Meelick National School. Our thoughts are with her family at this difficult time. I am getting regular updates about her illness and I hope she make a full recovery as soon as possible,” he said.
An account has been opened at the Bank of Ireland, Castletroy, sort code 90-45-95, account number 44058749.