Three months after the devastating event which left six young people dead, a survivor of the Berkeley tragedy placed her first phone call home after weeks spent in the Santa Clara Valley Medical Centre Rehab Facility.

Irish student, Aoife Beary, who has still to learn the extent of the tragedy which claimed the lives of five Irish and one American university student, was finally well enough to make a phone call home to Ireland.

The 21-year-old Dublin-native, who has been making steady progress since being transferred from a high dependency unit to a rehabilitation facility in California, spoke with her grandmother and hopes to be strong enough to return home to Ireland by the end of this month.
 


While the exchange between Co. Kerry-native, Maureen O'Doherty, and her beloved granddaughter was heartbreakingly short, it was the first time they exchanged words since Aoife's hospitalisation at the start of the summer.

Opening up about the milestone, Aoife's godfather Jame O' Doherty said: "It is the first time she has spoken to her. I don't think she said much more than 'hello grandma' - I don't think there was any conversation. It's been very stressful for her."
 

Commenting on his goddaughter's experience, James said: "She is making progress and I think her physical injuries are well on the way to mending but she still has a lot of recovery to do, rehab is difficult."

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, James revealed the extent of Aoife's difficulties and the various treatments she undergoes on a daily basis, explaining: "She is able to walk somewhat. She gets up every day and goes to occupational and physical therapy and speech and memory, but her return all depends on getting medical sign-off."

We're wishing Aoife all the very best on the road to recovery.

49 Shares

Latest

Trending