A Christmas like no other for the resilient Longford teenager

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A Christmas like no other for the resilient Longford teenager

Last Saturday, the community of Moydow came together in St Mary’s Church to celebrate Christmas mass two weeks early. Their reason was special.

Local teenager, Rebecca Reid, who has been suffering severe epileptic seizures almost daily since she was five, was due to go for brain surgery on December 16.

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A passionate choir singer, she was upset when she realised she would miss out on performing in the recital at Christmas Eve mass.

Seeing this, her mum Gráinne collaborated with Parish Priest Fr Vinny Connaughton to arrange for a special Christmas mass to be held for Rebecca last Saturday evening so she could sing the Christmas medley with her friends in the Moydow choir.

Speaking to the Longford Leader the day after, Gráinne explained how the surgery was only confirmed in September.

“Rebecca has been battling a very challenging form of epilepsy for the past 10 years and we were pretty much running out of options with regard to her treatments. It’s drug resistant. We tried everything, right down to ketogenic diets etc. We only found out in September that she was going to be having the surgery so it’s been quite a whirlwind getting our heads around that, the pre-surgery workups, going up and down to Temple Street, it’s been a lot. She is the most resilient, kind hearted, lovable young lady and so accepting of her journey in life.”

Earlier this year, the organisation, Epilepsy Ireland, named St Mel’s student, Rebecca and her younger sister Emma as the recipients of their annual Volunteer of the Year Award.

In January, Rebecca will be recognised with a Little Blue Hero Award, an honour bestowed upon inspirational children and teenagers living with serious conditions.

Even though the mass was in the works for some time, Rebecca’s condition meant her parents couldn’t risk sharing the good news with her until a few days beforehand.

Explained Gráinne, “We only told Rebecca a week ago that the Christmas mass was being brought forward. We didn’t tell her before that because otherwise she would have been too excited and big emotions bring on big seizures. Equally so, we couldn’t surprise her with it because it could bring on a big seizure. So, we started to prepare her a week ago and explained to her that we were having Christmas early.”

In the end, the surprise paid off and the night went beautifully.

Gráinne outlined, “We had choir practice in our home last Friday night. They’ve been the most amazing support to us. The mass itself on Saturday night was beautiful and then afterwards we had beautiful Christmas carols on the altar just like Christmas Eve. All the children went up to the altar and joined Fr Vinny – who has been an amazing support to our family. Fr Vinny and the sacristan Kathleen Conway also had little gifts and sweet bags for the children, just like Christmas Eve.

“It was so magical. The support from family, friends and neighbours has just been amazing. It was so special, the whole community coming together to celebrate Christmas early with us. That’s what community at Christmas is all about. My two little girls opening their Christmas gifts this morning was an added bonus – my youngest Emma, who is eleven, said, “mammy it really does feel like Christmas morning.”

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Gráinne added that the support received has been phenomenal.

“There were members right across the parish from the various choirs that joined Moydough choir last night with us and it was just the most beautiful thing. I’ve been to many masses, but there was something extra special about this and something we will cherish and remember forever.”

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