I AM A CATHOLIC AND RACHEL IS A PROTESTANT BUT THE BOMBERS HURT US BOTH EQUALLY
I am a Catholic and Rachel is a Protestant, but the bombers hurt us both equally'
By JOHN McCUSKER
A YOUNG bride-to-be, whose wedding plans were ruined after she was seriously injured in last August's explosion, is now patiently looking forward to finally walking down the aisle.
In just over eight weeks time, Kate Kelly (27) from Lammy Crescent, Omagh and her fiance Brian Mulcahy (27) will at last tie the knot at a ceremony which, at one point, both thought they would never see.
There to share in the occasion will be bridesmaid, Rachel Davis (25), from Mountjoy, who was also seriously injured as she and Kate stood just yards from the bombers' car.
Throughout the past 12 months, Kate who worked as a nursing auxiliary in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital has battled to regain the use of her right leg after medics gave her only a 50 percent chance of ever walking again.
But on 9th October, she is determined to conquer the odds and take part in the "wedding that nearly didn't happen."
On the afternoon of August 15 last, the young care worker had popped into the Carlton Bakery where bridesmaid Rachel worked. The pair joked about the forthcoming wedding as Kate wrote out invitations to her evening reception.
On being evacuated, both, made their way to Market Street and joined dozens of others outside McElroy's Shoe Shop.
"I can remember every detail as if it was yesterday. For a moment after the bomb exploded there was just total silence and then my only thought was to run. I just wanted to run and keep running."
It was only when she attempted to rise that the full extent of her injuries became apparent.
A six-inch long sliver of twisted metal had pierced her thigh, severing a sciatica nerve and the searing flash from the explosion burned the lower portion of her leg.
On being admitted to hospital she began slipping in and out of consciousness. And the loss of almost four pints of blood led doctors to fear for her life.
That evening, Kate underwent two operations at Tyrone County before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast later in the week.
At 3.10pm on Saturday 22 August as tens of thousands gathered in Omagh to remember the victims Kate was arriving at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to undergo nerve graft surgery in an attempt restore feeling to her limb. Six weeks later she was forced to call off the marriage ceremony.
"I felt so angry at having to cancel the wedding : angry at those who carried out the bombing, because I felt they had ruined my life at that point.
"I am a Catholic and Rachel is a Protestant. But the bombers hurt us both equally. Before this happened we had been good friends, but this has now brought us even closer," said Kate.
But with the wedding now on the horizon and a rehabilitation programme in place in an effort to regain power to her lower leg, Kate is determined to learn to walk unaided once again.
"This is the wedding that nearly didn't happen, so we have put an enormous amount of planning and preparation into it.
"That day means so much to me. Even when I think about my wedding now, I feel tears starting to swell. It's not because we had to cancel last year's plans, but because of all we've gone through within the past year.
"When I look back at what Brian and I have endured since the bomb exploded, I believe we can now overcome any obstacle."
In recent weeks, Kate has noticed what she describes as 'electric shocks' in her foot. The movement has encouraged her to step up the exercises which physiotherapists have drawn up in an effort to improve her mobility.
"I have got a permanent reminder of that day last August and will have for as long as I live. There is not a day I don't think of that. There are days when I questioned what I was getting out of bed for.
"But there is an awful amount of things I have to deal with and 1 know I have to be strong in order to overcome them.
"I now believe I can cope with the future, and the fact that I can now feel an improvement in my foot means that I have a goal to aim for." she added.
By JOHN McCUSKER
A YOUNG bride-to-be, whose wedding plans were ruined after she was seriously injured in last August's explosion, is now patiently looking forward to finally walking down the aisle.
In just over eight weeks time, Kate Kelly (27) from Lammy Crescent, Omagh and her fiance Brian Mulcahy (27) will at last tie the knot at a ceremony which, at one point, both thought they would never see.
There to share in the occasion will be bridesmaid, Rachel Davis (25), from Mountjoy, who was also seriously injured as she and Kate stood just yards from the bombers' car.
Throughout the past 12 months, Kate who worked as a nursing auxiliary in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital has battled to regain the use of her right leg after medics gave her only a 50 percent chance of ever walking again.
But on 9th October, she is determined to conquer the odds and take part in the "wedding that nearly didn't happen."
On the afternoon of August 15 last, the young care worker had popped into the Carlton Bakery where bridesmaid Rachel worked. The pair joked about the forthcoming wedding as Kate wrote out invitations to her evening reception.
On being evacuated, both, made their way to Market Street and joined dozens of others outside McElroy's Shoe Shop.
"I can remember every detail as if it was yesterday. For a moment after the bomb exploded there was just total silence and then my only thought was to run. I just wanted to run and keep running."
It was only when she attempted to rise that the full extent of her injuries became apparent.
A six-inch long sliver of twisted metal had pierced her thigh, severing a sciatica nerve and the searing flash from the explosion burned the lower portion of her leg.
On being admitted to hospital she began slipping in and out of consciousness. And the loss of almost four pints of blood led doctors to fear for her life.
That evening, Kate underwent two operations at Tyrone County before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast later in the week.
At 3.10pm on Saturday 22 August as tens of thousands gathered in Omagh to remember the victims Kate was arriving at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to undergo nerve graft surgery in an attempt restore feeling to her limb. Six weeks later she was forced to call off the marriage ceremony.
"I felt so angry at having to cancel the wedding : angry at those who carried out the bombing, because I felt they had ruined my life at that point.
"I am a Catholic and Rachel is a Protestant. But the bombers hurt us both equally. Before this happened we had been good friends, but this has now brought us even closer," said Kate.
But with the wedding now on the horizon and a rehabilitation programme in place in an effort to regain power to her lower leg, Kate is determined to learn to walk unaided once again.
"This is the wedding that nearly didn't happen, so we have put an enormous amount of planning and preparation into it.
"That day means so much to me. Even when I think about my wedding now, I feel tears starting to swell. It's not because we had to cancel last year's plans, but because of all we've gone through within the past year.
"When I look back at what Brian and I have endured since the bomb exploded, I believe we can now overcome any obstacle."
In recent weeks, Kate has noticed what she describes as 'electric shocks' in her foot. The movement has encouraged her to step up the exercises which physiotherapists have drawn up in an effort to improve her mobility.
"I have got a permanent reminder of that day last August and will have for as long as I live. There is not a day I don't think of that. There are days when I questioned what I was getting out of bed for.
"But there is an awful amount of things I have to deal with and 1 know I have to be strong in order to overcome them.
"I now believe I can cope with the future, and the fact that I can now feel an improvement in my foot means that I have a goal to aim for." she added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0459
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
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