Woman from Cork, Ireland succumbs after a decade living with the enigmatic Locked-In Syndrome, diagnosed in 2008.
Catherine O'Leary, a resident of Carrigaline, Cork, lived a life marked by courage and resilience after she developed locked-in syndrome at the age of 32 in 2008. This rare condition left her fully aware and awake but completely paralyzed and unable to move or communicate[1][2][3][4][5].
In late 2005, Ms. O'Leary was first referred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) due to continuous hiccups that lasted for three months. Despite investigations in 2006 and 2007, no cause for her hiccups was found, and she also experienced headaches and weight loss[1].
A scan in January 2008 identified a brain tumor, and Ms. O'Leary was diagnosed with locked-in syndrome later that year. She spent time in a high dependency bed at CUH before being flown to a rehabilitative facility in Putney, England. Despite initially responding well to treatment at the Royal Hospital for Disabilities, she stopped breathing and lapsed into a deep coma in October 2008[1][3][4].
However, Catherine regained consciousness and was flown back to CUH. She spent several more years in various care facilities before returning home to be cared for by her devoted family from 2014 until her death in August 2025, at age 49[1][3][4].
Throughout her 15 years living with this devastating condition, Catherine required 24-hour care, could only communicate by blinking, and was fed through a tube. Despite these challenges, her parents, Pat and Margaret, campaigned tirelessly on her behalf, and her father, Mr. O'Leary, described her as a "fighter" whom he cared for until her death[1][3][4].
In 2018, Mr. O'Leary stated that people often asked if Ms. O'Leary was able to communicate. He said there was a certain amount of interaction, but they spoke to her as if she understood everything[1]. The O'Leary family secured a €2.5 million settlement from the HSE in 2013, following a High Court case. The case alleged that Ms. O'Leary's condition was caused by a late diagnosis of a brain tumor[1].
Catherine's story is one of courage and resilience, and her family expresses deep gratitude for the support of the community throughout her journey. Ms. O'Leary passed away on Monday morning at the age of 49, leaving behind a legacy of strength and determination[1].
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