J T McNamara Update

Without trying to sound trite as I have no personal experience whatsoever of this.. the most inspirational person I ever saw speak was a man in a wheelchair, limited use of right arm, paralysed from the waist down. This was someone who had everything in life and was due to marry his childhood sweetheart. His chauffeur crashed the car and the man ended up paralysed. He had a very very long hard road to get his life back but what I will never ever forget are the words his mother told him when he was struggling to come to terms. "Stop focusing on what you CAN'T do, start focusing on what you CAN". Never forgotten that and it has become my mantra for life.

This man ended up marrying his sweetheart anyway, had a family and went on to build up a brand new company. He was honestly the most life hanging and inspiring person I have ever had the privilege to meet.
 
Well done Mr O`Leary,BUT I am never flying RyanAir again thankyou.Should have known by the religous pictures on the lockers really!:D
 
Well done Mr O'Leary, a man I've always had a lot of time for with his horses and Gigginstown.

One thought has occurred to me though, I don't recall ever seeing a jockey wearing an air jacket. I would have thought jockeys ought to be top of the list of riders where it should be mandatory.
 
Well Done Mr O'Leary and I hope if JT and his family didn't accept his offer(for whatever reason) he would donate it to the Injured Jockey Fund. A very kind gesture it is, lets not forget that this post is wanting to know the progress of JT, I am sure some of his friends and family are reading and we are all hoping and praying for him. Perhaps it would be wise if any negative comments are written (eg,Mr O'Leary) another thread is started.
 
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Huge vibes for JT, hoping he confounds the critics and if his recovery depends on fighting spirit he has it in spades.

A wonderful gesture from Mr O leary, very generous.
 
Racing really does look after its own. The Irish Turf Club have said they are going to pick up all JT's medical bills, and he and his family have the backing and support of JP McManus, the IJF and racing as a whole. Its a terrible tragedy but so inspiring to see the racing community rallying round one of their own.
 
Daffodil said:
Well done Mr O'Leary, a man I've always had a lot of time for with his horses and Gigginstown.

One thought has occurred to me though, I don't recall ever seeing a jockey wearing an air jacket. I would have thought jockeys ought to be top of the list of riders where it should be mandatory.
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Didn't pass jockey club tests.
 
Dizzydancer said:
Caledonia-because some people are very proud and find it hard to accept having money they wouldn't normally have.
Bertieb completely agree with you.
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JT would never be so churlish. Racing looks after its own, and that's exactly what O Leary is doing.
 
Caledonia said:
JT would never be so churlish. Racing looks after its own, and that's exactly what O Leary is doing.
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Quite.

Im staggered at the generosity of those who we mostly see has being hard-nosed, but who will step up when it matters. All credit to all those who care.

Regarding an air-jacket, I doubt that it would have prevented a serious neck injury.

Alec.
 
Caledonia- i agree they do. I will refrain from further comment on whether he will accept it or not- its not the time or place. And actually neither of us no if he would or wouldn't accept it.
 
katherinef said:
Racing really does look after its own. The Irish Turf Club have said they are going to pick up all JT's medical bills, and he and his family have the backing and support of JP McManus, the IJF and racing as a whole. Its a terrible tragedy but so inspiring to see the racing community rallying round one of their own.
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This. With the best people around him who knows what progress he may make? I suspect updates on his condition will be slower from now on, as he deals with the injury.
Thoughts and serious vibes heading his way.
 
I can't stop thinking about this. This thread again is putting a lump in my throat.
All my thoughts and prayers are with JT and his family and wishing them the strength to cope with this blow.
A good family friend had an almost identical injury from a rugby game. Life really is very cruel sometimes. :(
 
Alec Swan said:
Quite.

Im staggered at the generosity of those who we mostly see has being hard-nosed, but who will step up when it matters. All credit to all those who care.

Regarding an air-jacket, I doubt that it would have prevented a serious neck injury.

Alec.
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Re the air jacket: Maybe; maybe not. However I doubt it would do any harm, and if (guessing here) 90% of eventers use them they must be considered to be beneficial. Maybe their use should be revisited by the Jockey Club.
 
I think knowing jockeys they would just set each others canisters off for fun, could cost some poor conditional £80 before he's even left the weighing room.....
 
I think a major problem with an air jacket would be that the jocks couldn't curl up and roll as they are trained to do. If they are lying sprawled on the ground far more risk of being hit by a following horse. Also have you noticed how far back some of them are over the fence - cords would be popping and inflating all over the place.
 
Update on JT McNamara
"We are pleased to announce that JT McNamara has arrived at The National Spinal Unit, Mater Hospital, Dublin following his transfer from Frenchay Hospital, Bristol. We wish to express sincere thanks to all the personnel involved in his safe transfer. We will forever be indebted to the staff at Frenchay Hospital for the fantastic care he has received there since his injury. John Thomas is looking forward to the next phase of his treatment and rehabilitation in Ireland. We thank everyone for their on-going support and prayers and ask people please to continue to respect our privacy.”

Issued jointly by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club Senior Medical Officer and Lisa Hancock, CEO, Injured Jockeys Fund on behalf of the McNamara Family.
 
Thanks for update Gadetra.

Sending all best wishes to JT and family. If anyone will work hard at rehab to recoup as much as possible, he will.
 
My brother was paralysed in a stupid accident of his own making at the age of 22 - it destroyed my mother and some of my father - and of course, didn't do much for him either!!!
Life can be very cruel over small lapses of attention.

He did rehabilitate to an amazing standard but is still paraplegic and doubly incontinent - which I feel is probably the worst side of it all - dehumanising.

People praised his attitude but really - what choice does one have? It's either a case of getting on with it as things are - or putting your head in a bucket eh?

Nothing wrong with his brain though, he continued higher education and gained engineering qualifications, worked on the Tornado programme and is now an I.T. specialist for a global plc.
 
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