Nenagh sisters making their mark
Two sisters from Nenagh who have given distinguished service to the nursing profession in the different parts of the world where they now live are again making news for all good reasons.
Professor Trish Morris-Thompson and Marian Morris-Ervin grew up on Limerick Road and are daughters of Jimmy and the late Nonie Morris and sister of local councillor, Séamie.
Trish, now in her early 60s, and living in London, is going to abseil down the city’s tallest sculpture from 262 feet above the British capital at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on this Friday, July 7, to raise funds for the Dillon Quirke Foundation, set up in memory of the Tipperary hurler, who tragically died in August of last year.
The foundation was established by Dillon’s family to fund cardiac assessments for all young men and women playing GAA sports, after he collapsed and died from sudden arrythmia death syndrome while playing the game he loved.
For Trish, the abseil is going to be a dauting prospect. “I’m petrified of heights,” she says. “But most importantly I would like to raise funds for a cause that’s close to my heart.”
She says she is inspired to face her fears of heights by taking the big jump, because Dillon was “a wonderful young man” and gifted hurler who came from a great family.
“His inspirational family have set up a foundation to enable every boy and girl to have the appropriate screening to prevent more young people in the sport suffer Dillon’s tragic fate.”
Appealing to her friends and associates across the international community on her Facebook page, Trish points out that Dillon was wearing the number 11 jersey on the day he died. She is therefore seeking donations of that number in euro, dollars or Sterling pounds for the foundation.
“If we save one life it will be a true legacy to a much-loved and admired young man – personally I think there will be more lives saved,” says Trish, a highly skilled nurse who rose to the top in her profession.
The Nenagh woman has spent most of her life working in the nursing sector in a glittering career in which she became one of the most senior nurses in the UK care sector.
During her 38-year career she worked in high-ranking positions both in the NHS in Britain and the private sector and was a vocal ambassador for nurses and carers.
She is also an established author and her work has been published frequently in professional journals. With an international reputation for leadership in nursing and midwifery, she has won many coveted awards for her services.
OTHER SISTER
Coincidentally, one of her sisters Marian Morris-Ervin, who lives in Madras in the US state of Oregon, is currently making headlines in that part of the world for her achievements in the profession.
Marian, who began her nursing career specialising in obstetrics in St. Charles-Madres hospital in 1996, has just been named winner of the coveted Daisey Award.
The award was set up to recognise nurses who make a profound difference in the lives of patient and families of patients.
It was established by the family of a 33-year-old man, J Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of a disease of his immune system.
A nurse colleague, on learning that the Nenagh native had won the award, declared, “It’s long overdue.”
Marian has been the nurse case manager At St Charles-Madras hospital since 2006.
Her award now gives her the opportunity to apply for a grant. She is hoping to use the opportunity to go on a mission to surgically treat children with cleft palates in a developing country through the Smile Ireland organisation.
“It will make the award more meaningful,” commented Marian on her prestigious award and grant prize.