Aengus O'Rourke thanks people for support and prayers for his mother

Having spent almost four of the last seven months in hospital Mary O'Rourke is now convalescing in Dublin and  making very good progress, according to her son Aengus.

Aengus explains: "Sepsis from a bout of cellulitis last December left Mam very ill and very weak.

She was on very heavy medication for much of the first four months of this year.  Mam was in Tullamore General Hospital for two months,

then St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin for another month or so.

"Now she is convalescing in Dublin where we hope she will regain her strength and independence to allow her to get home.

"Thankfully, mam is in great form again.  She has been through a lot recently and has battled hard to recover from the sepsis she had earlier this year.

"She is clinically very well, so we are now hoping that with the right amount of rehab and physiotherapy, she will be strong enough to get home in the coming months.  It is great to see her doing what she loves again, she is reading a book a day, and she has plans to write again soon.

“Given how ill she was six months ago, her recovery has been amazing, we are so grateful.

"I want to thank the amazing staff at both Tullamore General Hospital and St Vincent's in Dublin for the great care they have given mam.

"I also want to thank the people of Athlone for the many letters, cards, mass bouquets, text messages etc. we have received in recent moths.

"People have been so thoughtful and kind, and there is no doubt their good wishes have kept mam going.  So, I just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for all their amazing support, prayers and kindness.”