Lisa ‘shocked and surprised’ at Westmeath Carer of the Year award
Living in a house that is “often busier than Picadilly Station” and working as a full-time carer for her 23-year old son, Conor, who suffers from the rare genetic condition, Ethlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), has earned busy Bealnamulla mother-of-four, Lisa Malone, the title of 'Westmeath Carer of the Year.'
Lisa admits that she was “shocked and surprised” when she received a phonecall to tell her that she had won the award, even though she was aware that friends and family had nominated her.
“I think all carers should be fully recognised for the work they do, but in my own case, I did what any mother would do and that is look after her family,” she says matter-of-factly.
Admitting that she has “a complicated life” and is now on the road to having her 14-year old son, Jordan, genetically tested, Lisa Malone is a passionate and outspoken advocate on behalf of her eldest son, Conor, who went from being a healthy and fit 17-year-old to having ileostomy surgery on his colon, suffering chronic pain and needing self-catherisation as his bladder had stopped working.
Conor was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or EDS, a group of rare inherited conditions that affect connective tissue and cause joint hypermobility, problems with bladder control, digestive problems, extreme fatigue, joint pain and heart issues among others.
Lisa Malone has campaigned tirelessly to improve her eldest son's quality of life and that of other sufferers of the rare genetic disorder, and earlier this year she spearheaded a huge GoFundMe campaign to raise €160,000 for life-saving surgery in Barcelona.
“When I think of how much the surgery has improved the quality of Conor's life, and that he is now walking instead of sitting in a wheelchair, I can hardly believe the change and we are all really looking forward to Christmas this year,” she adds.
Lisa is mother to four boys, Conor (23) Adam (21) Jordan (14) and Jamie (10). As well as being the Westmeath Carer of the Year is also the carer for her 92-year-old father, Frank Sumner, although she is loud in her praise of her wider family and describes them as “a very good family unit”.
Lisa was presented with a hotel voucher, a bouquet of flowers and a certificate for winning the Westmeath Carer of the Year award and her name will now go forward for the overall national award.
“I think all carers do wonderful work, and I don't think that I am any more deserving of the award for Westmeath than any of the other wonderful carers out there, but I am honoured and delighted nonetheless,” she says.