POPPY DAY VICTIM GIVEN YEAR TO LIVE
Poppy Day victim given year to live
11-year coma man suffers heart failure
By Kathryn Torney
NOREEN Hill has been given the heartbreaking news that her husband Ronnie, who has lain in a coma since the Enniskillen bombing, has only up to a year to five.
Ronnie Hill fell into a deep coma two days after a wall was blasted on to him during the 1987 Poppy Day massacre in which 11 people died and 63 were injured.
For almost seven years Noreen has cared for him in a nursing home she bought in Holywood, into which he moved when he left hospital.
But today she revealed that doctors now say Ronnie (67), who recently suffered heart failure, will not survive longer than a year.
His condition was first diagnosed when he spent nine days in hospital after taking ill on July 22 this year.
Noreen, his devoted wife of 42 years, stayed with him every night.
It is devastating news for his wife and their three daughters and son, who have lovingly provided for his every need since the bomb blast that changed their lives forever.
"What can you say when you are told something like that?" Noreen said softly yesterday.
"I knew he could die at any time but when you are told it could happen, and we have been given a time, it comes as just as big a shock as it would to any wife.
"Even when I know I have a sick husband it comes as a shock. It makes no difference. I just have to accept it and there is nothing I can do."
Noreen said the doctors have not yet given a reason for the onset of his heart failure.
"It could be in the aftermath of the bomb. When the body takes what his body has taken from the bomb..." she mused almost to herself.
The former headmaster had a heart by-pass in 1985.
"But his heart was strong," she said, "It was perfect. He just had a problem with the arteries going to his heart.
"This could have happened to him anyway, despite the bomb."
Noreen was suffering terribly from the effects of gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer when the bomb exploded at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday 1987.
It was Ronnie's hand poking through the rubble that saved him when it was spotted by rescuers who scrabbled to unearth him.
He had a fractured skull, jaw, shoulder and pelvis but doctors thought he would recover.
Then, two days after the bombing he suddenly lapsed into a coma. But still it was thought he would come out of it.
The days turned to weeks and months, however, and he ended up spending four years in hospital before his wife bought the nursing home.
Ever since, Noreen has spent hours with Ronnie each evening in his room on the ground floor of the home.
His eyes open occasionally and Noreen believes he follows the sound of her voice. She has said in the past that he also looks cross at times if being disturbed.
Noreen says the Enniskillen bombing has encouraged her to live for the day.
"It taught me not to look to the future because you don't know what it is going to hold," she said quietly.
"I take a day at a time. He has been given a year at the maximum but he could be here in 10 years time.
"He still looks the same now and is still breathing. But we will have to learn to cope with him not being here when the time comes."
Anyone who speaks to Noreen always comes away somewhat humbled by her strong faith.
A faith which leads to her having no bitterness about the bomb and its effect.
Earlier this week she advised the victims of the Omagh tragedy not to carry bitterness around with them.
"It is a dreadful burden to have to carry," she said.
"It is not hard not to be bitter as long as you rely on God. He takes all the hatred and bitterness away.
"I don't think I can take any credit for not being bitter about what happened to Ronnie. I believe that God kept that away from me."
The one future image she allows herself to have is of her and her husband eventually together again in heaven.
"Oh, we will be in heaven. That is one thing that I am sure about," she said, her voice lifting.
"It is lovely to think that we will meet again."
11-year coma man suffers heart failure
By Kathryn Torney
NOREEN Hill has been given the heartbreaking news that her husband Ronnie, who has lain in a coma since the Enniskillen bombing, has only up to a year to five.
Ronnie Hill fell into a deep coma two days after a wall was blasted on to him during the 1987 Poppy Day massacre in which 11 people died and 63 were injured.
For almost seven years Noreen has cared for him in a nursing home she bought in Holywood, into which he moved when he left hospital.
But today she revealed that doctors now say Ronnie (67), who recently suffered heart failure, will not survive longer than a year.
His condition was first diagnosed when he spent nine days in hospital after taking ill on July 22 this year.
Noreen, his devoted wife of 42 years, stayed with him every night.
It is devastating news for his wife and their three daughters and son, who have lovingly provided for his every need since the bomb blast that changed their lives forever.
"What can you say when you are told something like that?" Noreen said softly yesterday.
"I knew he could die at any time but when you are told it could happen, and we have been given a time, it comes as just as big a shock as it would to any wife.
"Even when I know I have a sick husband it comes as a shock. It makes no difference. I just have to accept it and there is nothing I can do."
Noreen said the doctors have not yet given a reason for the onset of his heart failure.
"It could be in the aftermath of the bomb. When the body takes what his body has taken from the bomb..." she mused almost to herself.
The former headmaster had a heart by-pass in 1985.
"But his heart was strong," she said, "It was perfect. He just had a problem with the arteries going to his heart.
"This could have happened to him anyway, despite the bomb."
Noreen was suffering terribly from the effects of gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer when the bomb exploded at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday 1987.
It was Ronnie's hand poking through the rubble that saved him when it was spotted by rescuers who scrabbled to unearth him.
He had a fractured skull, jaw, shoulder and pelvis but doctors thought he would recover.
Then, two days after the bombing he suddenly lapsed into a coma. But still it was thought he would come out of it.
The days turned to weeks and months, however, and he ended up spending four years in hospital before his wife bought the nursing home.
Ever since, Noreen has spent hours with Ronnie each evening in his room on the ground floor of the home.
His eyes open occasionally and Noreen believes he follows the sound of her voice. She has said in the past that he also looks cross at times if being disturbed.
Noreen says the Enniskillen bombing has encouraged her to live for the day.
"It taught me not to look to the future because you don't know what it is going to hold," she said quietly.
"I take a day at a time. He has been given a year at the maximum but he could be here in 10 years time.
"He still looks the same now and is still breathing. But we will have to learn to cope with him not being here when the time comes."
Anyone who speaks to Noreen always comes away somewhat humbled by her strong faith.
A faith which leads to her having no bitterness about the bomb and its effect.
Earlier this week she advised the victims of the Omagh tragedy not to carry bitterness around with them.
"It is a dreadful burden to have to carry," she said.
"It is not hard not to be bitter as long as you rely on God. He takes all the hatred and bitterness away.
"I don't think I can take any credit for not being bitter about what happened to Ronnie. I believe that God kept that away from me."
The one future image she allows herself to have is of her and her husband eventually together again in heaven.
"Oh, we will be in heaven. That is one thing that I am sure about," she said, her voice lifting.
"It is lovely to think that we will meet again."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0089
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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