![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/bcbe7c2e-feed-4385-9135-8a530cd67a72.jpg\")
A family raising money for their seriously ill daughter have received a boost after mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor donated to their cause.<\/p>\nA family raising money for their seriously ill daughter have received a boost after mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor donated to their cause.<\/p>\n
Catherine O\u2019Leary, 43, has locked-in syndrome and is looked after by her parents, Pat and Margaret O\u2019Leary, at their house in Carrigaline, Co Cork.<\/p>\n
Her family are currently fundraising for a new vital signs monitor to assist in her ongoing care.<\/p>\n
And they surpassed their target thanks to a donation of \u20ac5,000 from UFC fighter McGregor.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Leary, 68, told the PA news agency: \u201cWe were absolutely over the moon when we heard that he was donating.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son, who set up this GoFundMe, he rang me, he said, \u2018Oh my gosh, did you see the fundraising?’\u201d<\/p>\n
It is the second time in a year that McGregor has helped the O\u2019Leary family in their care for Catherine.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, when all this Covid-19 thing started, we found it very hard to get gloves and masks,\u201d Mr O\u2019Leary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put something out there for people to help us and Conor McGregor\u2019s manager actually drove all the way from Dublin with gloves and masks and sanitizer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was all done through Conor McGregor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mother-of-one Catherine\u2019s health problems began around 13 years ago when she had a brain tumor, which was originally misdiagnosed by doctors.<\/p>\n
She suffered two strokes during the operation to remove the growth in February 2008 and after subsequent complications was left unable to speak, move or even swallow.<\/p>\n
After years of being cared for in hospitals and nursing homes, her family brought her back to their home six years ago, where they look after her in a specially built extension with the help of nurses.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Leary said: \u201cThey only gave her a life expectancy of 10 years \u2013 she\u2019s outlived that by three years.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year is a bonus to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new monitor will replace the one the family is currently using, which they described as \u201cobsolete\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s damaging her fingers because she has a probe that\u2019s going on to her finger,\u201d Mr O\u2019Leary said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to move it round every 20 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family hope McGregor will be able to visit at some point in the future to see what his money has been able to achieve, but if not they will send him photographs of the new monitor.<\/p>\n
Mr O\u2019Leary said: \u201c(I want to) thank him so much and just to let him know that his donation will keep Catherine in good health because the monitor is essential for us, because even though Catherine can\u2019t tell us if she\u2019s in pain, the machine can tell us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fantastic that we\u2019re able to get the machine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having surpassed the \u20ac2,000 needed to buy the new machine, any further funds raised will be used for its upkeep and on Catherine\u2019s ongoing care.<\/p>\n