Where is the State care for my tragic son?

As friends of a man left with severe brain damage after a random attack released almost 5,000 balloons in Tuam at the weekend, the young man’s father has spoken of his disappointment at the lack of long term care for his son.

Four years ago Shane Grogan, who was 22 at the time, was struck in the head with a piece of concrete kerbing, leaving him with severe brain injury from which he has not recovered.

His parents Joe and Joan Grogan are deeply appreciative of the huge financial support they have received for the care of their son as hundreds turned out on Saturday for the release of the balloons – some of which have reached Northern Europe.

And it was somewhat ironic that one of the balloons ended up in Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital in Warwickshire where Shane received expert treatment around this time last year.

But Joe Grogan is also bemoaning the fact that there is no long term treatment in this country for long-term brain injury victims like his son Shane who is now a resident in a nursing home in Tuam.

After Shane was the victim of an unprovoked attack after attending the final day of the Galway Races four years ago, he was admitted to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire but could only be kept for 90 days before being released.

He received treatment in Leamington Spa and was resident in UHG in Galway before being accommodated at Arus Mhuire in Tuam where he is currently a resident and is visited by family and friends on a daily basis.

See full story and photos in this week’s Connacht Tribune.