International Women's Day
Today is International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Here are a selection of some of the wonderful women who aren’t letting a spinal cord injury hold them back. But there are many more and we wish all of them a Happy International Women’s Day. You should all be proud of all your achievements.
Emma Cahill
Emma Cahill sustained a burst spinal fracture in 2010 when a horse she was riding fell back on top of her. Doctors told her that she would be paralysed from the waist down. Like many newly injured people, the then-22 year old didn’t believe it. Luckily her L5-injury was incomplete and she was able to learn to walk again with aids and even get back in the saddle. Emma represented Ireland in 3* Para Dressage in 2014 and 2015, falling short of qualification for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. Emma has also built a successful career post-injury, pivoting from the original plan to become a vet, she received a scholarship from Bord Bia and is a Global Marketing Director for Kerry, who relocated her to the U.S. Emma has sat on the Board of Spinal Injuries Ireland since 2017 and was the keynote speaker at the Q-Ball in 2015. She was also recognised in 2022 as an Outstanding LGBT+ Executive Role Model. “When I received the news about my injuries, I thought my life was over. I am very glad to know today that I was wrong. I’m grateful for the peer and medical support that I have had and the opportunity to build a new life after such a devastating accident. When tragedy strikes, it brings out a lot of good in people who rise to the occasion. It took me a while but for each truly happy moment that I have had since 2010, I have had to accept everything that came before as part of my story and my journey to get there. The challenges I face everyday are humbling and have made me more sensitive and aware of what others around me might be facing. I am really grateful for that resilience and perspective”
Jenny Needham
Jenny Needham has had multiple back surgeries since 2008 on a spinal tumour and is now a full-time wheelchair user. Before sustaining her SCI Jenny was a crew member of in Dun Laoghaire Lifeboat Station and had spent much of her working life at sea. Determined not to give this up, Jenny ensured she remained working and volunteering in an industry she loved and is now the Administration Manager at Dun Laoghaire Marina and a Launching Authority with Dun Laoghaire RNLI. She also plays wheelchair basketball with the Ballybrack Bulls and is the only female member of the team. Jenny provides great support to SII in facilitating the storage and maintenance of our powerboat at the Marina and when we need help with this, Jenny makes it happen. She is a formidable lady and a force to be reckoned with. “Being a wheelchair user has taught me the value of perseverance, patience, and gratitude. I'm grateful for every moment and opportunity that comes my way, and never take anything for granted. While my spinal cord injury and use of a wheelchair may present some challenges, it has also opened a world of new possibilities and opportunities that I may not have discovered otherwise. My wheelchair has become an extension of myself, providing me with the freedom and independence to live my life on my own terms.”
Gemma Willis
Gemma Willis sustained her spinal cord injury in a road traffic accident in 2015 and is wheelchair user. She was studying to be a pastry chef before her accident and continues to bake delicious baked goods in her spare time. Gemma is co-director and owner of a quirky Greeting Card Company called Stun Bunz. The idea for the business came when a friend drew a Get Well Card for her following her accident. Gemma is also a motivational speaker, speaking to young people and encouraging them. For Gemma, life is about looking towards the future, continuing to challenge herself and living life to the full. Gemma is a peer support volunteer supporting people to overcome the obstacles they’ve encountered while dealing with an injury. Gemma is currently in Antigua taking part in the Spinal Injuries Ireland Tall Ships Challenge.
Cathy Fitzpatrick
Cathy is a powerchair user after acquiring her spinal cord injury from a spinal tumor in YEAR???. Cathy has 3 children. Throughout her life Cathy never let her disability deter her from achieving her dreams. She participated in European competitions and the Paralympics for four consecutive Games, taking part in discus and pentathlon, achieving bronze medals in both discus and pentathlon in 1980, and a gold medal in Discus in 1984. In the 1988 Seoul Paralympics Cathy took part in both the discus and pentathlon events again and achieved silver and bronze medals. She also represented Ireland at the Paralympics in Paris in 1992. Cathy is one of the peer Volunteers with Spinal Injuries and has been an advocate for services for people with Spinal Cord Injuries for many years. Cathy is currently studying Horticulture with the Cork Education Training board. This is a full-time accredited course which Cathy is enjoying.
Julie Barnett
Julie Barnett is a chef by trade and makes novelty birthday cakes. She was diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome after a ruptured disc in 2013. Julie is one of our peer support volunteers and wants to support others in coming to terms with being diagnosed with CES and to show people there is light at the end of the tunnel. “It’s a long road but it’s not the end of the world”. She is married with three children and her second grand daughter arrived a couple of weeks ago. Great to see the lineage of strong women being continued.
Olivia Shiel
Olivia Shiel is a patient and disability rights representative. Olivia sustained her spinal cord injury following a spinal cord tumour in 2012. She is a married with three school age children. Olivia worked as a teacher prior to her injury and is actively involved with disABILITY Louth, a voluntary organisation that promotes the rights of persons living with disabilities. Olivia enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, art, music, swimming and big mugs of tea. Olivia’s advice: “Minimise maximum regret”.
Susan Farrelly
Susan Farrelly was diagnosed with CES following an injury in 2014. She is married with two children. Susan holds an MA in Fine Art, she runs an art studio on Co. Louth which specialises in delivering functional and user friendly art workshops. Abbey Art Studios is a working studio and their motto is “Fun Inspiring creativity”. Susan has run art classes for people with spinal cord injuries and sees the vital importance of meeting others with similar injuries and “sharing the journey” in a creative space. "Not every mind and body will experience Art the same way. But every mind and body is entitled to the experience and opportunity to be creative." Susan Farrelly
Dr. Éimear Smith
Dr. Éimear Smith, known to many of our service users, is a Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at the Mater Misericordiae University & National Rehabilitation Hospitals. Éimear chose rehabilitation medicine and specifically spinal cord injury for many reasons: “the basis of SCI care is based on all of the anatomy and physiology of the body rather than one specific area of the body, which interests me hugely; SCI affects people of all ages so I get to work with everyone from little children to octo- and nonogenarians; I have always been interested in people’s lives and in human behaviour and how we adapt in so many ways to changed life circumstances; more recently, much of the research for a “cure” and the challenges which this poses, have fascinated me.” Éimear has specialised in this area for 15 years and is held in incredibly high regard both by her peers and by the patients she works with. Her advice to women who sustain a spinal cord injury is “to look after all areas of your health as best you can, so that if a break-through treatment for SCI occurs, you will be in the best possible position to avail of it. Stay in contact with other women with SCI as women are the best source of support to each other – don’t forget to attend the annual NRH/SII women’s reunion later this year and every year!” Éimear also sits on the Board of Spinal Injuries Ireland and we are really grateful for both her time and expertise.
