“I’ve lived at The Cottages since 2010. It’s a wonderful home, I’ve achieved and learned so much and I have so many friends here.”
However, having supportive staff is just as important to Regan who explained that the team, together with volunteers at the Skills Centre have encouraged her to do and achieve more.
Living with challenging medical conditions and unpredictable events which tragically exacerbated her epilepsy, is something that she has both endured and overcome. It is remarkable and wonderful that Regan is alive to share her story with us. “I enjoy life now and at times I didn’t before. I’ve proved to myself that I can enjoy life.”
The earlier chapters of her story are not for the faint hearted. Regan’s epilepsy began at the age of two and a half. At five years old she lost the use of her right side, was in and out of hospital for most of her childhood and was only able to attend school between the ages of 9-12. Regan was given a hemispherectomy to reduce her seizures but sadly there was a rare complication which caused an infection in her brain 6 years later. As a result of the complication, Regan had to have a metal plate fitted and unfortunately after this operation her seizures returned. Tragically, Regan was then in a very serious car accident which resulted in her metal plate having to be removed. She had an operation to remove some of her rib bones which were then used in her skull.
Now in a happier chapter of her life, Regan’s epilepsy is better managed, but unfortunately, she still experiences seizures. She is grateful to be able to embrace the many opportunities that she has at The Meath. Regan feels a strong sense of ‘making up for lost time’ at school and really values the opportunities that she now enjoys. In many respects her life now resembles more of a sequel than a chapter of the same book. Looking back through her past, she explained that “I never thought it would be possible to achieve the things I wanted to achieve in life, but now I can”.
A huge achievement for Regan was learning to read through attending Meath Playhouse sessions, weekly play sessions for local young children and their carers to socialise and play together with Meath residents. Regan’s love of young children gave her the confidence to begin reading them story books and she has since continued to gain confidence with reading. At The Meath Carol Service 2023 at St Peter and St Paul’s Church she proudly gave a poetry reading to the packed congregation. “Staff at The Cottages helped me to practice, and I did some rehearsals with my friends at Social Saturday sessions at The Hive too. I am proud that I did it even though I was nervous.”