OMAGH SURVIVOR'S MESSAGE OF HOPE TO LONDON VICTIMS
Omagh survivor's message of hope to London victims
IN the wake of last week's bombings, which tore the heart out of central London, Omagh bomb survivor, Donna-Marie McGillion, has issued a message of strength and hope to all those who have been affected by the horror attacks.
Donna-Marie was just 22 and about to tie the knot with fiance Garry when she was caught up in the 1998 blast which claimed 31 lives and ripped Omagh apart.
She spent almost seven weeks in a coma and suffered horrific facial burns which meant that she had to wear a special transparent mask to help them heal.
Despite the terrible physical and emotional ordeal she endured, Donna-Marie overcame all the odds to walk up the aisle with Garry, who was also injured in the bomb, just six months later. Four years after that, she presented their baby daughter, Cara, to the world, as a symbol of hope and triumph of good over evil.
This week, Donna-Marie offered that same hope to people in London whose lives, like hers, have been touched and tainted by terrorists.
She said: "You can't let the terrorists win. You have to prevail, and prove that good will always conquer evil."
Describing her thoughts and feelings after she emerged from her coma and had to face the reality of her appalling injuries, Donna-Marie said there were times when she got very depressed and could not understand why this had happened to her, but would not allow what had happened to destroy her spirit.
"I thought to myself, I have to get out of this, and my main reason was that I wasn't going to let terrorists beat me. If I sat in the corner then not only would that affect me but also my family and friends. The terrorists interrupted my life, they didn't ruin it. They took 31 lives in Omagh, they weren't going to take another one," she said defiantly.
Speaking from experience, Donna-Marie's message to Londoners affected by the tragedy was to take all the advice, help and support offered to them by professionals.
"For those people in London right now, support is so important. The patients go through all the pain but their families are in complete turmoil too. It will be a long haul for them; it's taken seven years for me, and me and Garry are still getting treatment at hospital.
"There are going to be highs and lows but I would say to them, do what their doctors tell them. If they tell them to cream their burns four times a day, do, and if they have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, then wear it, because it's so important.
"You may not want to now, but in years to come you'll be thankful you did. Take the help and support that's offered and if they need trauma counselling they should take it because it's so beneficial and it helped me and Garry," she added.
IN the wake of last week's bombings, which tore the heart out of central London, Omagh bomb survivor, Donna-Marie McGillion, has issued a message of strength and hope to all those who have been affected by the horror attacks.
Donna-Marie was just 22 and about to tie the knot with fiance Garry when she was caught up in the 1998 blast which claimed 31 lives and ripped Omagh apart.
She spent almost seven weeks in a coma and suffered horrific facial burns which meant that she had to wear a special transparent mask to help them heal.
Despite the terrible physical and emotional ordeal she endured, Donna-Marie overcame all the odds to walk up the aisle with Garry, who was also injured in the bomb, just six months later. Four years after that, she presented their baby daughter, Cara, to the world, as a symbol of hope and triumph of good over evil.
This week, Donna-Marie offered that same hope to people in London whose lives, like hers, have been touched and tainted by terrorists.
She said: "You can't let the terrorists win. You have to prevail, and prove that good will always conquer evil."
Describing her thoughts and feelings after she emerged from her coma and had to face the reality of her appalling injuries, Donna-Marie said there were times when she got very depressed and could not understand why this had happened to her, but would not allow what had happened to destroy her spirit.
"I thought to myself, I have to get out of this, and my main reason was that I wasn't going to let terrorists beat me. If I sat in the corner then not only would that affect me but also my family and friends. The terrorists interrupted my life, they didn't ruin it. They took 31 lives in Omagh, they weren't going to take another one," she said defiantly.
Speaking from experience, Donna-Marie's message to Londoners affected by the tragedy was to take all the advice, help and support offered to them by professionals.
"For those people in London right now, support is so important. The patients go through all the pain but their families are in complete turmoil too. It will be a long haul for them; it's taken seven years for me, and me and Garry are still getting treatment at hospital.
"There are going to be highs and lows but I would say to them, do what their doctors tell them. If they tell them to cream their burns four times a day, do, and if they have to wear a mask 24 hours a day, then wear it, because it's so important.
"You may not want to now, but in years to come you'll be thankful you did. Take the help and support that's offered and if they need trauma counselling they should take it because it's so beneficial and it helped me and Garry," she added.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1795
Published Date: 14-Jul-05
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