BEDSIDE VIGIL FOR HUSBAND AS NORMA LOSES AN EYE
Bedside vigil for husband as Norma loses an eye
By NANETTE OLDHAM
BOMB victim Norma White suffered horrific facial injuries in the Omagh blast, robbing her of an eye and destroying half her face.
The 27-year-old mother-of-one is currently being treated at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, where she was flown following the blast. Her husband Ivor, 35, is keeping a constant vigil at her bedside.
Her mother-in-law Grace White said from her Omagh home: "She is in a terrible way. Her condition is not life-threatening anymore but she is still suffering so much pain.
"Half her face was almost destroyed completely. She looks dreadful.
"And the poor wee lass has lost an eye. Surgeons had to remove it because her face was cut apart by flying shrapnel.
"Thankfully the other eye is OK. But she was such a pretty girl. She's so upset she's ended up like this.
"We haven't seen our son Ivor, her husband, since it happened. He went to be with her straight away. He's very upset as well. This has destroyed them."
Norma and Grace were both in the town at the time of the blast, but were not together.
Amazingly, Grace escaped without injury. But it was only a matter of seconds that saved her, she recalled.
"I was in the Salad Bowl and some other shops. I was talking to Fred White and his son, who are friends of ours. I left the shop and walked down the road. Both men were killed, I can't believe it. I'm alive and they're dead."
Grace and her husband James knew many of the dead and some of their closest friends were seriously injured.
"We are just off to go and see some of their families now, but there are just so many people to go and see.
"And you just don't know what to say to people. Norma was very badly injured but at least she is alive.
"We are going to go and see some parents who have lost their children. Nothing in life prepares you for something like this."
By NANETTE OLDHAM
BOMB victim Norma White suffered horrific facial injuries in the Omagh blast, robbing her of an eye and destroying half her face.
The 27-year-old mother-of-one is currently being treated at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, where she was flown following the blast. Her husband Ivor, 35, is keeping a constant vigil at her bedside.
Her mother-in-law Grace White said from her Omagh home: "She is in a terrible way. Her condition is not life-threatening anymore but she is still suffering so much pain.
"Half her face was almost destroyed completely. She looks dreadful.
"And the poor wee lass has lost an eye. Surgeons had to remove it because her face was cut apart by flying shrapnel.
"Thankfully the other eye is OK. But she was such a pretty girl. She's so upset she's ended up like this.
"We haven't seen our son Ivor, her husband, since it happened. He went to be with her straight away. He's very upset as well. This has destroyed them."
Norma and Grace were both in the town at the time of the blast, but were not together.
Amazingly, Grace escaped without injury. But it was only a matter of seconds that saved her, she recalled.
"I was in the Salad Bowl and some other shops. I was talking to Fred White and his son, who are friends of ours. I left the shop and walked down the road. Both men were killed, I can't believe it. I'm alive and they're dead."
Grace and her husband James knew many of the dead and some of their closest friends were seriously injured.
"We are just off to go and see some of their families now, but there are just so many people to go and see.
"And you just don't know what to say to people. Norma was very badly injured but at least she is alive.
"We are going to go and see some parents who have lost their children. Nothing in life prepares you for something like this."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/043
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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