Marian Holy Art: Irish Catholic devotional gifts inspired by Knock and Lourdes

Marian Holy Art came about after many visits to Knock Shrine. With plenty of time on my hands, Our Blessed Lady gave me a “light-bulb moment” as I sat viewing the Apparition Wall within the Basilica.

Hi, I’m Dave Geraghty. I’m a recovering stroke patient the stroke left me paralysed on my left side and I’ve lived in a nursing home for almost ten years now, a place I’ve truly come to love. I’m here to give back: to share my own experiences and offer advice to stroke patients and their loved ones facing this traumatic, life-changing event. A stroke is hugely disruptive, and I want to help people find ways to cope. I’ll be sharing tips for anyone left disabled by a stroke or other illness small ideas to make each day that bit better and more manageable.

And a word for the “Golden Oldies”, the over-50s: one day a nursing home may beckon, and it’s worth your honest consideration. Go in of your own free will don’t be pushed in. Forward planning is essential, because spaces are very limited.

David’s Story

When I was confronted with a mini-stroke, I recognised the symptoms immediately. The feeling within myself was like being caught in the high-beam headlights of a car and not knowing what’s behind them, except I was caught up in fear, fright and a sense of panic. This was followed by a full-blown stroke, with an artery imploding within my brain, leaving me with an acquired brain injury, which catapulted me from being a mature, intelligent, healthy, athletic being to an infant in 90 seconds.

I deserved it! Working more than 100 hours per week, driving for up to 1000 miles a week, paying no attention to my diet, overweight, too fond of alcohol, and a lack of regular exercise and common sense. It has been the second most profound event of my life, which has now allowed me to re-invent myself and do something in my life which I never thought was possible.

“It is not the end, but the beginning of something new.”

Exiting from my induced coma, I soon realised that I had retained all my cognition and am very grateful for this gift. As I sat in my ward full of acute stroke patients, I realised how lucky I am, and I promised on that day that someday I would find a way to give back to those less fortunate, and to those who will travel my route, and maybe take some solace from mine. To sum it up, it is not ‘the end,’ but the beginning of something new, and which can be an ingenious way to live, as not too many are re-born twice in one lifetime.