maternity&infant Awards Brochure 2015 by Ashville Media Group

V o t ed , t est ed & ap p ro v ed b y p arent s

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Friday 30th October 2015

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Celebrating great achievements in the parenting industry!

#bootsmiawards2015 www.maternityandinfant.ie

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1 Boots maternity & infant awards 2015

CONTENTS 2

WELCOME From Boots and maternity & infant

BEST BABY WIPES BEST BABY STORE BEST BATHTIME PRODUCT

MOTHERCARE MIDWIFE OF THE YEAR

BEST ORGANIC PRODUCT BEST MATERNITY PRODUCT BEST FAMILY COOKBOOK

PHARMACIST OF THE YEAR

BEST SAFETY PRODUCT BEST MATERNITY SKINCARE BEST PARENT & BABY ACTIVITY

BEST COT BEST BABY MONITOR BEST BREASTFEEDING PRODUCT

SUDOCREM MIRACLE BABY OF THE YEAR

NURSE OF THE YEAR

COMMUNITY CRECHE OF THE YEAR BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT BEST BABY SKINCARE

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE OF THE YEAR

BEST MATERNITY WEAR BEST FAMILY SUPERMARKET BEST BUGGY

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BEST POTTY TRAINING BEST THERMOMETER BEST FAMILY HOTEL/ HOLIDAY DESTINATION

DAD OF THE YEAR

IRISH DAILY MAIL GRANDPARENT OF THE YEAR

CANAVAN BYRNE YOUNG ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR

EUMOM BUSINESS PARENT OF THE YEAR

BEST BABY SWIMMING PRODUCT BEST FAMILY BRAND BEST FOR BABY COLIC

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BEST CAR SEAT SPONSORED BY JOHNSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BABY PRIVATE CRECHE OF THE YEAR BEST BABY BAG

BEST FEEDING PRODUCT BEST TRENDY TOTS BRAND BEST FAMILY CAR

MUM OF THE YEAR

SUPER SIBLING OF THE YEAR

MULTIPLE CRECHE OF THE YEAR BEST PAIN RELIEF FOR KIDS BEST PREGNANCY SUPPLEMENT

PAEDIATRICIAN OF THE YEAR

OBSTETRICIAN OF THE YEAR

BEST TRAVEL GADGET BEST TRAVEL SYSTEM BEST BABY FOOD

BT CHILD HERO OF THE YEAR

BEST STERILISER BEST NAPPY BEST BABY/KID SUPPLEMENT

BEST FAMILY DAY OUT SPONSORED BY SELECT HOTELS BEST NURSERY PRODUCT INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

BEST PARENTING BLOG BOOTS GRAND PRIX

BOOTS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR

BOOTS SPECIAL MERIT OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR

BEST SLEEP PRODUCT BEST FAMILY/KIDS APP BEST BABY/TODDLER TOY

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Welcome to the maternity & infant Awards 2015!

e would like to welcome you all here today to the 2015 maternity & infant Awards. Once again, the Awards celebrate the heroes that we as parents just couldn’t be without. The first part of the Awards commend the people who have gone to immense trouble to help others in their parenting journey, and this year, us judges had a harder time than ever sorting through all the inspirational stories we received. We’re sure that as you read their stories in this brochure you’ll agree that these worthy winners should be celebrated. The second part of the Awards names another type of hero – those products that us parents can’t do

without. Some of these products are new, while others are classics that have existed since our own childhoods, but as all our winners are tried and tested by parents (who take their roles as judges very seriously indeed), you can be sure that these are truly the very best products out there. A lot of work goes into these Awards, and we’d like to take the opportunity to thank our judges, nominators and winners for their time and their inspirational stories. We would also like to thank our sponsors for their immense generosity, and our Events team for their hard work. In particular we would like to thank Boots for their incredible support this year.

Penny Gray

EDITOR, MATERNITY & INFANT MAGAZINE

A word from our sponsor

he journey to becoming a parent is an exciting, yet daunting time and uniquely different for every mum and dad. With this in mind, we at Boots Ireland are delighted to be involved as partner this year at the maternity & infant Awards. The people awards are such a fantastic way to celebrate parents, as well as recognising all of the amazing people and unsung heroes around Ireland who are out there supporting them, in addition to the product awards which are so incredibly useful to parents as a guide when choosing between the multitude of baby essentials required once you have a little one! Care underpins everything that we do in Boots, and so strive to provide support for parents when caring for their most precious possessions – their children – whether that’s simply for a chat with your local Boots Pharmacist for free

baby or parent healthcare advice or with our Boots Parenting Club. Parenting Club is exclusive to Boots Advantage Card members who are expecting a baby or have a little one under three and is available to join for free in store or online at boots.ie. As a member, you will receive 10 Boots Advantage Card points for every 1 you spend on baby products every time you shop plus access to exclusive gifts and offers via the Boots App as well as information and advice via regular tailored emails – which we hope will do a little to help parents along their journey. I’ve no doubt that you will enjoy the awards today, some of the stories are truly inspiring and humbling. I hope that in partnering with the maternity & infant Awards this year that we can help champion every parent’s desire to give their child the best start in life.

Gillian Hennessy

HEAD OF MARKETING, BOOTS IRELAND

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BEST BABY WIPES Aldi Mamia Sensitive Baby Wipes Boots Baby Sensitive Wipes HUGGIES Pure Wipes JOHNSON’S Baby Extra Sensitive Wipes Pampers Sensitive Wipes • VOTED ,

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BEST BABY STORE Baby Elegance Bella Baby Cherish Me Earthwise Trading Mothercare • VOTED ,

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BEST BATHTIME PRODUCT Boots Baby Sensitive Moisturising Head to Toe Wash Dentinox Cradle Cap Shampoo Elave Sensitive Baby Bath JOHNSON’S Baby TOP-TO-TOE® Bath Philips Avent Bath & Room Thermometer

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OF THE YEAR WINNER: FRANCES BURKE NOMINATED BY: ERIN SCOTT

Midwife Frances Burke goes beyond the call of duty to offer advice and support to new mothers.

ust five days after the birth of her son, new mum Erin Scott was feeling overwhelmed and having difficulty feeding her new baby. It hadn’t been an easy time for Erin, whose partner had passed away while she was pregnant with their son, Oisín. Now, as a new mother, Erin was having difficulty feeding Oisín and sought help. She was given the number for midwife Frances Burke, who she rang in tears. Erin describes how Frances came to her side and instantly calmed her nerves. “Frances was so calm and understanding that I was immediately able to relax and realise that Oisín was fine.” From that day on Frances acted as a constant parenting support in Erin’s life. Frances visited Erin a number of times in the first week, showing her the correct techniques on how to feed Oisín and gave the new mum lots of encouragement. Erin says: “One night, I think at about three o’clock, I was panicking again because he wasn’t feeding so I texted her and she phoned me back straight away. It was just continued support then throughout and just having that bit of advice and reassurance that you’re doing something right was brilliant.” Thanks to the encouragement that Frances had given Erin she quickly began to gain confidence with Oisín.“It was like everything just kinda fell into place with Oisín. I didn’t feel as nervous, I felt like I

was in control, I can do this.” When Erin’s nipples cut while breastfeeding she was panicked and didn’t know what she should do. Nobody in her family or her friends had ever breastfed, and she knew no one who could support her with feeding. Once again, Frances eased any fears that persisted to cloud Erin’s thoughts. “She showed me how to express, how to do the feeds and just having someone to assure you that this is all normal and you’re not doing anything wrong or you’re not gonna poison your child with a little bit of blood. You know, it was just having that extra support because I didn’t have somebody that I could ask about feeding and I didn’t have my partner there to support me. My friends and family gave me great support, and I’m so grateful to them; Frances gave that extra bit of support that gave me confidence in feeding and parenting Oisin.” Erin can’t fully describe the effect that Frances had on her life within those initial weeks of Oisín’s birth. She credits the fact that he was breastfed for for a full year to Frances. “She got me through the first couple of weeks adjusting to being a new mum at home with my baby, honestly, she’s a shining star that came at the right time. A wonderful personality, the patience of a saint and bursting with kindness. I don’t think she realises herself, the positive impact she had on me.”

“Frances was so calm and understanding that I was immediately able to relax and realise that Oisín was fine.”

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BEST ORGANIC PRODUCT Aldi Junior’s Mini Rice Cakes Heavenly Tasty Organics Coconut Squishies Range Quinola Mothergrain Baby SuperValu Kiddies Organics Baby Raisins SuperValu Kiddies Organics Fruit Pots Range • VOTED ,

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BEST MATERNITY PRODUCT BetterYou DLuxPregnancy Daily Vitamin D Oral Spray Bio Oil Bumps’n’Babies Chloe Nursing Top

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BEST FAMILY COOKBOOK Bread on the Table : Baking Traditions for Today by Valerie O’Connor Food for Friends by Edward Hayden Neven Maguire’s Complete Baby & Toddler Cookbook No Bake Baking by Sharon Hearne-Smith

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OF THE YEAR WINNER: SHEENA MITCHELL NOMINATED BY: MICHELLE CASSERLY

This year’s Pharmacist of the Year has approached her profession with a warmth and skill that is unparalled. Her dedication to helping those who need it most makes her nothing short of an inspiration.

heena Mitchell is the proud owner of Milltown pharmacy, total health. But while her business may be located in Dublin, her kindness to people in need has spanned far beyond those borders. With no less than eight nominations for this award, a more deserving recipient could not be found. Using her knowledge as an experienced pharmacist Sheena sought to use her skills towards setting up a health information blog called Wonderbaba. The objective of Wonderbaba is to ease the health concerns of new mothers and help them find their feet. She provides support and advice all year around, all day long, to help mothers protect their children. One nominator, Michelle, was relieved to finally find a trustworthy and friendly source of information on the internet. “You know as a first-time mother you have these queries and you think oh god is this normal? Do I need to go to the doctor? Do I need to go to the hospital? Or is it just my imagination? So I came across her blog there and it’s brilliant, I check it regularly, it’s very good. You mightn’t

have thought of some of the things on the blog before and it’s just information that’s good to know.” Sheena is praised for relaying advice on a variety of topics that tie in with the time of year and seasonal illnesses. Her professional expertise as a pharmacist allows her followers to feel confident with the advice she posts online. Even still, it’s undoubtedly Sheena’s ability to empathise with fearful mothers that sets her apart from the norm. Like many new mothers, Michelle felt she would be ridiculed for being overly cautious about her baby boy. Since interacting with Sheena and her blog she feels secure and has gained peace of mind. “It’s great that she understands, as a mam herself, that this might be the most important problem in the world to you... even though it might be nothing. I think you can feel a bit stupid as a first time mam. Particularly when you’re asking a question that you feel everyone probably knows the answer to and you’re clueless. In the first couple of months it’s reassuring to know somebody reliable is there.” As a mother herself Sheena realises that illness doesn’t just strike within working

hours. As a result she provides guidance to mothers after everyone else has clocked out. Nominator Nikki contacted Sheena when her child was poorly and was left amazed by the kindness of this total stranger. “She helped me out when my little boy was poorly, even though it was in the wee hours of the morning. After that I thought she really must wear a super cape!” This sentiment is echoed in each message from followers who believe that Sheena should be recognised for the effort she makes. “She provides an invaluable out of hours service. She has answered queries I have had late at the weekends when my young baby had chicken pox and then a severe reflux flare up. She sincerely deserves to win this!” Perhaps the most inspiring aspect Sheena Mitchell’s work is that she asks for nothing in return. “I live outside the county but she still gave me proper fantastic advice,” said another. Without any agenda, Sheena has brought comfort and friendship to those who’ve found her. For this reason alone, she whole-heartedly deserves to be named Pharmacist of the Year.

“You know as a first-time mother you have these queries and you think oh god is this normal? Do I need to go to the doctor?”

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BEST SAFETY PRODUCT Boots Baby Walking Reins & Harness Dentinox Medicine Dispenser Dummy Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Munchkin White Hot Duck Inflatable Bath Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Digital Thermometer • VOTED ,

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BEST MATERNITY SKINCARE Bia Beauty Skincare Bio Oil L’Oréal Paris Laser Renew Day & Night Moisturiser Lidl Cien Bodylotion Palmers Skin Therapy Oil Spray • VOTED ,

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BEST PARENT & BABY ACTIVITY Funky Monkeys Soft Play Cafe Dundrum Giddy Pottery Painting Studio Harmony Yoga Baby Yoga Classes Turtle Tots Baby Swimming Classes Water Babies Baby Swimming Classes

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BEST COT Baby Elegance Laba Cot Chicco Next2Me Stokke Home

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BEST BABY MONITOR BT Digital Baby Monitor 350 Lightshow BT Video Baby Monitor 7500 Lightshow Motorola MBP853 Connect Philips Avent Sensitive Eco Dect Baby Monitor Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Video & Sensor Mat Monitor • VOTED ,

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BEST BREASTFEEDING PRODUCT Boots Ultra Slim Breast Pads Dentinox Nipple Cream MAM Breastfeeding Set Philips Avent Natural Electric Breast Pump Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Electric Breast Pump

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Our Experience Our Knowledge Your Peace of Mind visit our early years shop www.earlyyearsshop.ie Call us on 01623 5908 www.canavanbyrnechildcare.ie Untitled-6 1 237687_1C_Canavan Canavanbyrne.indd 1and Byrne_ALS_MIAwards.indd 1

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100% Magenta

100% Cyan 95% Magenta

OF THE YEAR WINNER: AOIBHEANN MANGAN AND PADRAIC GODWIN NOMINATED BY: ISEULT MANGAN

This year’s winners have channelled their energy into saving lives and making life safer for their peers and friends.

t the ages of eight and nine, two young talents, Aoibheann Mangan and Padraic Godwin, have captivated the attention of Ireland in an attempt to make their home a safer place. While carrying out a project for farm safety week at school, Aoibheann and Padraic realised there was no information online directed towards children. Any content found was written for the use of teachers or adults. This sparked an idea that led Aoibheann and Padraic to create their own farm safety website, exclusively for children. Their teacher, Iseult Mangan, explains further: “They kinda decided, ‘no that’s not enough we need to look up things for ourselves. We’re big enough to go on the internet and look things up so we want it to be fun and more adventurous and something that we can understand.’ They couldn’t even understand the wording of a lot of the websites.” Aoibheann and Padraic began to create content for their website with an enthusiasm and skill that left Iseult reeling. “They literally landed into school everyday with another page they did at home themselves or another bit.” Within a month they had the website completed and sought to enter the Eircom Junior Spiders competition. After securing a victory with Eircom Junior Spiders they informed Iseult of how far their ambitions had extended. “They wanted every school in Ireland to

know about the website. They had their plan for alerting the media, they planned a big launch, they wrote to the local politicians to invite them and before long I got a phone call from UTV Ireland.” News of the hard work Aoibheann and Padraic were doing had travelled until everyone wanted to meet the young stars of this new website. Both children used every opportunity to disperse their message about farm safety. This included when they charmed Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and politely pointed out what they could be doing to help the cause. It’s now one year since the initial project began and it seems that nothing will stop the flow of ideas from these two. “They’ve started talking about making a log for the children who can’t read yet,” says Iseult. “Where the ideas are coming from I just don’t know. They are just full of ideas, full of thinking about different angles and they’re always conscious of what children will understand, so if something’s too complex, they’ll change it. They blow me away.” Aoibheann and Padraic are an inspiring model for any child who longs to be heard. Their website, which is just a few hits short of three million views, is proof that even the tiniest of voices can make a deafening roar. “So I guess it’s just the fact that if two small children from a very rural part of Ireland can be that powerful, it shows other children that they can be powerful too,” says Iseult.

“Their website, which is just a few hits short of three million views, is proof that even the tiniest of voices can make a deafening roar.”

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OF THE YEAR WINNER: TRACY DESMOND NOMINATED BY: SISTER, CAROL DESMOND

This year’s Business Parent of the Year remoulded her life during a difficult time and created a successful baking business through sheer determination, passion and hard work.

racy Desmond is a mum of three and successful business owner, having built her baking business from scratch after going through tough times. Her hard work and determination have brought her to where she is today: a successful businesswoman turning cakes into sugar-crafted masterpieces and our Business Parent of the Year. After learning her family was under severe financial pressure and separating from her husband, Tracy was left with debt, a mortgage, no job and three children to look after by herself. But she wasn’t about to let it beat her. With her talents Tracy began to build what is now a successful baking business from scratch, which led her to make Lisa Cannon from TV3’s Xpose’s wedding cake and successfully supply local supermarkets with her delicious and talented baking. Her sister Carol acknowledges her twin sister’s determination, and admires her ability to have bounced back from extreme hardship with grace, passion and sheer hard work: “She’s the hardest worker I know. She’s a mum of three children and she’s done it on her own as well. She used her own talents to build a new business for herself and has made it into something that’s now doing so well.” Now a successful businesswoman, Tracy has managed to juggle it all while being a mum to her

three kids; Ciara, 10, Tara, 13 and Dylan, 17, balancing her work life with her home life brilliantly. “She’s not somebody that does things by halves, she goes wholeheartedly into it,” says Carol. “She’s doing wedding cakes, birthday cakes and supplying some Supervalu supermarkets locally in Cork as well as being on the Food Academy programme with Bord Bia, the local enterprise board, teaching sugar craft and also decorating local businesses through window art. A few weeks ago she won an award with Glas na h’Eireann for her chocolate biscuit cake, so everything is happening at the same time. It’s a whirlwind for her and it’s fantastic.” Tracy is a worthy winner of this award, having worked her way to success through an extremely tough and vulnerable time, but had the strength and self-belief to bring her passion to life and use her own talent to support her family and make a name for herself in the industry, and her sister couldn’t think of a more deserving winner. “She’s artistic and passionate about food. I’m delighted that she’s won, she deserves it. As I said, she’s the hardest working person I know. Even last Friday night she was working until half past five in the morning, I don’t know anyone else who works as hard as she does. She deserves the very best in life as a result of all her hard work.”

“She’s the hardest worker I know. She’s not somebody that does things by halves, she goes wholeheartedly into it.”

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urse N h t l Public Hea

OF THE YEAR WINNER: SINEAD CORBETT NOMINATED BY: PATIENT, SINEAD HOLDEN

This year’s Public Health Nurse of the Year Award winner, Sinead Corbett of the Wexford Community Services, shows great care and consideration for her patients beyond the call of duty. She is always there for them whenever they need her and goes that extra mile to make sure they are feeling okay.

hen her baby son fell ill, Sinead Corbett’s kindness made a difficult time for Sinead Holden that little bit easier, by showing true professionalism and great care for both her patient and his mother. “My son got severe bronchiolitis and it affected his weight so we were seeing Sinead a lot,” Sinead explained. “She went above and beyond for me and my little boy, on the phone making sure I was alright, constantly following up. I was getting upset about it and she was there for me just to listen as well. It wasn’t just about the baby, it was the whole lot, it was all inclusive. She was making sure that everybody was okay.” Sinead began to hear stories of Sinead Corbett’s amazing work and kindness from many different people, all telling stories of how well Sinead had cared for them, and how dedicated and kind she had been while they were in her care. “I was hearing stories of just how good she was from everybody that I came into contact with, it wasn’t just me. It wasn’t just that she said to me: ‘Oh, I know what you mean, I have a small child myself’, when my son was sick, she was good across the board. Looking back I was kind of down in myself at the time but I didn’t realise it, but she picked up on that. She

was making sure that I was okay as well.” Sinead Corbett’s open arms approach with all her patients made Sinead feel comfortable and in good hands whenever she was with her or needed to ring her for some advice and reassurance outside of the clinic. “She was very approachable, you never felt like you were putting her out by ringing her. I was out in the clinic a few times for check-ups and they were so busy, out the door, but anybody coming in it felt like they were happy with the service they were getting. She was the very same with me as she was with the next person and the next person. There’s a lot of pressure on our health service at the moment but there are people like Sinead who make a huge difference in people’s lives and you don’t even realise it.” Sinead is delighted her nominee has won the award and feels she totally deserves it. She is glad she has been recognised for the great care and consideration she showed herself, her son and other patients in their difficult times of need.“I’m so delighted she’s won the award, and I’m so happy I took the time out to nominate her as well. She’s just in there doing her job, making people she’s with everyday feel better about themselves when they’re going through difficult times.”

“There’s a lot of pressure on our health service at the moment but there are people like Sinead who make a huge difference in people’s lives and you don’t even realise it.”

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BEST MATERNITY WEAR Frugi Mothercare Blooming Marvellous Seraphine Tiffany Rose

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BEST FAMILY SUPERMARKET Aldi Lidl SuperValu

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BEST BUGGY iCandy Peach 3 Blossom Mothercare Nanu Mountain Buggy Urban Jungle: The Luxury Collection Out n About Single Little Nipper Quinny Zapp Xtra2

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BEST BABY SWIMMING PRODUCT HUGGIES Little Swimmers Turtle Tots Re-usable Swim Nappy The Splash About Happy Nappy The Splash About Happy Nappy Wetsuit

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BEST FAMILY BRAND Aldi iCandy World Limited Johnson & Johnson SuperValu Tommee Tippee • VOTED ,

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BEST FOR BABY COLIC Bio-Kult Infantis Colief Infant Drops Infacol Philips Avent Classic+ Anti Colic Bottle Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Advanced Colic Bottles

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by a B e i r a cl

OF THE YEAR WINNER: ANTOINETTE O’KANE NOMINATED BY: MUM, MARY O’KANE

At just 19 months old Antoinette O’Kane has exhibited an inner strength that few could imitate and everyone should admire.

n March 22, 2014, a full four months before her due date, Mary O’Kane began to feel contractions. Pregnant with twins, she arrived at the Coombe Hospital in Dublin where doctors attempted to slow down the labour. On March 25th, at exactly 24 weeks’ gestation, Mary gave birth to two beautiful babies, Mel and Antoinette. “At nine minutes past 11 Mel was born. He’d been a breach baby. Then, at 22 minutes past 11 Antoinette was born but unfortunately the placenta had come out before her so there was a bit of a panic to get her out.” The medical staff and doctors at the Coombe Hospital were on hand at the birth to resuscitate Antoinette and care for the premature twins. Regretfully, Antoinette’s twin brother Mel didn’t make it. After ten days of life and a brave fight with necrotizing enterocolitis and sepsis he passed on. Mary believes that even though their time together was short, her twin babies shared a personal bond. “The night before he

died I was allowed to hold him for the first time while the nurse was changing Antoinette. She was crying like a little kitten. When he heard her he began to wriggle around to look at her. It was like they were communicating.” It was a short time later, when Antoinette was only 28 days old that her health would be tested again. Mary had arrived at her daughter’s bedside to find her turning blue in colour and motionless. She was not the wriggling little girl that her mother knew her to be. After examining her blood sugars and oxygen levels, doctors concluded that Antoinette’s health was failing. “The next day they informed us that she had necrotizing enterocolitis and more than likely also had a perforation in her bowel and septicemia.” A further three weeks on antibiotics and Antoinette’s hard work began to see results. On her expected due date of July 15th 2014, she was finally able to return home with her mother. A short time later, her family received news that she would have to undergo surgery in

order to remove a massive ovarian cyst. Like every hurdle that came before, Antoinette triumphed. Today, Antoinette’s is a picture of childhood health. To the relief of her mother and family, there’s been no long-term effects from her premature birth or early illness. At 14 months old she began to walk and now at 19 months she’s surpassed the early expectations of doctors. Her mother credits this to her complete unwillingness to be defeated. “She had absolutely no prospects at the start, she’s the most scrawny, wriggly little thing. We were told that she’d have to make some effort in order to survive. So there she was, every day, wriggling and standing up for herself.” At 19 months old Antoinette has conquered more than most face in a lifetime. Her strength is a quality that will remain with her throughout her life. She serves as an inspiration to her parents, older sister Ellen, grandparents and relatives. “She has proved that life is precious and that babies born at extreme prematurity can have a fighting chance.”

“At 19 months old Antoinette has conquered more than most face in a lifetime... She has proved that life is precious and that babies born at extreme prematurity can have a fighting chance.”

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e s r u N

OF THE YEAR WINNER: JONI OWENS, TEMPLE STREET CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NOMINATED BY: FRIEND, DANIEL PEETERS

This year’s Nurse of the Year is not only an amazing nurse at Temple Street Children’s Hospital but also a fantastic friend as Daniel Peeters soon found out when he was diagnosed with lung Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

oni Owens works tirelessly in her job as nurse at Temple Street Children’s Hospital, but her nursing skills go far beyond her job as her neighbour Daniel Peeters reveals. Daniel moved with his wife and three children into the same estate as Joni two years ago. Their children are similar in age and their daughters soon struck up a strong friendship, bringing the families close together. Joni commutes from her home in Cavan to Temple Street each day. A mum of three herself, she works extremely hard for her patients and their parents, to make them feel as comfortable as possible while they are in her care. She also works for the Jack and Jill foundation and is a scout leader in her spare time. Her nursing skills were soon needed in her spare time too, when Daniel was diagnosed with lung Hodgkin’s lymphoma in December 2014. “With all of the trips up to the hospital and everything else that comes with my diagnosis, we were scared it might turn our lives upside down,” Daniel says. “We wanted

everything to be as normal as possible for our children. Joni helped us immensely to keep our children’s routine normal during this time. She picked the children up from school whenever she could and took care of them while my wife attended hospital with me.” Daniel is beyond grateful for the support Joni gave to his family: “On her rare days off she insisted all our children should stay at hers for fun and frolics. She looks after them like they are her own and let us get on with getting well again. She is a true friend and remarkable woman. She always makes everyone who is in her company feel good with her big smile and positive attitude. “In addition, she is a wonderful children’s nurse at Temple Street. She is a true professional who goes beyond the call of duty for her patients. She has the kindest caring manner and a very special way with young children. Like the character Joy in Disney’s movie Inside Out, nurse Joni is all about the hugs.” Thankfully, Daniel is now in remission and things are finally getting back to normal for Daniel and his family.

“Like the character Joy in Disney’s movie Inside Out, nurse Joni is all about the hugs.”

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COMMUNITY CRECHE OF THE YEAR An Turas Happy Days Ballyporeen Kinvara Community Children’s Centre Little Hands

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BEST FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Luigi Malones Milano No.9 Barronstrand St. Relish Café TGI Friday’s • VOTED ,

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BEST BABY SKINCARE Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment Bia Beauty Baby Cream Dentinox Cradle Cap Shampoo JOHNSON’S Baby TOP-TO-TOE Bath Sudocrem

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BEST POTTY TRAINING PRODUCT HUGGIES Pull-Ups Lidl’s Toujours Quick Pants Junior Big Pampers Easy Up SuperValu Fragranced Flushable Toddler Toilet Wipes

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BEST BABY THERMOMETER Boots Pharmaceuticals Non Contact Thermometer Philips Avent Bath & Room Thermometer Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Digital Thermometer Visio Focus Thermometer

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BEST FAMILY HOTEL/HOLIDAY DESTINATION Cork International Hotel Diamond Coast Hotel Dingle Skellig Hotel Slieve Russell Hotel, Golf & Country Club Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park

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Dad

OF THE YEAR WINNER: DAMIEN HORGAN NOMINATED BY: WIFE, JANETTE MCGUINNESS

This year’s Dad of the Year is the glue that holds his family together. He’s supported his wife through unimaginable health difficulties while keeping his young daughter’s lives as normal as possible.

anette met Damien 18 years ago through friends, and three years later, the couple married. “We knew we were meant to be together, we’ve always been a great team,” says Janette. But life has been far from straightforward for the couple. Janette has suffered with bad health over the years, and six years ago, she lost her leg. Throughout it all, Damian has shown unwavering compassion, putting his wife and their three kids before everything else and doing whatever it takes to make them happy. It’s for this compassion, love and support that Damien has been crowned this year’s Dad of the Year. There have been times when Janette was so ill doctors told husband Damian to prepare their children for the worst, but Janette says that Damien’s positive attitude got them through. “My husband has never given up on me. He always maintained things as best he could at home with our two young daughters. “I have a prosthetic leg and Damien does everything in the house that I can’t do. My daughter Alannah was just six when I lost my leg and her sister Katlyn was nine;

it was a lot for them to understand but Damien brought the girls to visit me in hospital whenever the doctors would allow it. “Not only is Damien the most amazing support to me and my children, he also does everything in our house. Six years on from losing my leg and I am still waiting for our home to be fitted with a downstairs bedroom so I can get around safely. Damien does everything in the house that I am unable to do; cleaning, washing, shopping and making sure the girls keep up with their school work. I would be lost without him.” Unfortunately, in the last few weeks Damien has been told his health is not good, but his wife Janette says he has soldiered on like the true trooper that he is and gets on with life with a loving smile and a positive attitude. The couple’s daughters, Alannah, now 12, and Katlyn, 15, are both extremely proud of their dad. In recent weeks, Damien and Janette have welcomed their first grandchild into the world, Sophia, and are now looking forward to being proud grandparents too.

“My daughter Alannah was just six when I lost my leg and her sister Katlyn was nine; it was a lot for them to understand...”

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LOVE FASHION

.ie

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nt e r a p Grand

OF THE YEAR WINNER: KATHLEEN O’SULLIVAN NOMINATED BY: DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, EILEEN DUNNE

This year’s Grandparent of the Year goes to a lady who has shown no bounds when it comes to supporting her family. Kathleen is an amazing woman, who spends her life helping others.

hen Kathleen’s daughter-in-law Eileen was told she was expecting triplets at her nine week scan, her first reaction was utter shock, which quickly turned to worry. With no family history of multiple births, grandmother Kathleen went to mass everyday to pray for her daughter-in-law and her three grandchildren. Eileen was 30 weeks’ gestation when her three boys Aodán, Ruraidh, and Tadhg arrived into the world safely. Although the boys were a low birth rate, all three were home after five weeks in hospital and so the madness began. With no support or help offered to families with multiple births, and the couple’s first child Aisling only two years old at the time, the family were unsurprisingly worried about how they would cope. In stepped super-gran in the form of Kathleen. “Kathleen drove for 45 minutes three nights a week for two years to help us out,” says Eileen. “She would spend the night awake with the boys, literally sitting at the end of the their cots. Kathleen would feed, change and put each boy down again during the night. With triplets you don’t get any sleep initially. What you pray for in those

early days is that you’ll have time to feed and change them before the next one wakes and that you will be able manage on your own. “Kathleen would spend the entire night awake and in between she would do the ironing and knit for the boys. The next morning, I would get up delighted with a full night’s sleep, and Kathleen would head off to spend the morning doing home help and take all my washing with her, arriving back that night after maybe getting two to three hours sleep in the afternoon, with all my washing and ironing done,”says Eileen. “She was a spectacular support, and still to this day Kathleen blows my mind, we were under a lot of pressure as any multiple birth family is and I feel for us with four very small children, Kathleen’s generosity was incredible.” But it’s not just Eileen who is the lucky recipient of Kathleen’s kindness. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the amazing things that she does for others, she is fantastic and such a loving granny, all her ten grandchildren adore her. My mother died from breast cancer when I was young so I was totally blown away by the support from Kathleen. She never wanted any thanks or acknowledgement for helping us and I am over the moon she has won.”

“With triplets you don’t get any sleep initially. What you pray for in those early days is that you’ll have time to feed and change them before the next one wakes and that you will be able manage on your own.”

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Baby Elegance Group 0,1,2 Baby Car Seat Kiddy Evo-Lunafix Maxi-Cosi Axiss Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix & EasyFix Base The BeSafe iZi Go Infant Carrier • VOTED ,

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PRIVATE CRECHE OF THE YEAR Crawford Childcare Kilminchy School House Mounthawk Montessori School and Busy Bees Nursery The Cottage Playschool • VOTED ,

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BEST BABY BAG iCandy Emilia Bag Pacapod Idaho Baby Bag Ru by and GINGER Mini Changing Bag Pink Lining Yummy Mummy Bag

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BEST FEEDING PRODUCT Babypotz Mixed Starter Set of 50 Pots and Lids CogniKids GRIP MAM Anti-Colic Bottles Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Feeding Bottles

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BEST TRENDY TOTS BRAND Frugi Scrumptious Organic Clothes H&M Childrenswear Jools Oliver Little Bird Collection Splash About’s Holiday Shop

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BEST FAMILY CAR Ford Focus Nissan X-Trail Renault Scenic Toyota RAV4 Volvo XC90

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Mum

OF THE YEAR WINNER: JACQUI O’SHAUGHNESSY NOMINATED BY: FRIEND, LUCY CAMPBELL

Selflessness, kindness and patience are simply second nature to our Mum of the Year, Jacqui O’Shaughnessy. For her family of seven children, she’s the glue that holds their whole world together.

acqui O’Shaughnessy always knew that motherhood was in her nature. As natural born carer, she is one of those rare personalities that are always caring for someone else. Today, as a mother of seven, she shows no signs of changing. While most would be frazzled when met with the energy of seven young children, Jacqui takes the day in her stride with ease and patience. “You’d have to be in her house one day as her seven children are running around her legs and you’re in awe of her,” says Jacqui’s friend, Lucy Campbell. “She’s just standing there so calm and good fun and good hearted.” Things have not always been calm. Each child has been born prematurely, with her earliest being a set of twins who arrived at just 29 weeks’ gestation. “She’s always had babies born in special care,” says Lucy. “That’s okay when you’re on child number one. However, when you’re on your second set of twins and you’ve three kids at home under three and two babies in special care, life can get tough.” Even then, the real test of Jacqui’s strength had yet to come. Only a few short days after Jacqui returned home with her baby son Alex, a torrential storm hit the village where the family live. The surrounding area was entirely flooded, leaving Jacqui cut off from the outside world. When Jacqui turned to her newborn

son Alex, he had stopped breathing and begun to turn blue. It turned out that Alex had a condition known as RSV; the mucus in his lungs had caused them to stick together and he was unable to breathe. It was only Jacqui’s steel nerves and quick thinking that saved the life of her son. “She had six other kids running around her and her baby was blue and she’s stuck because of the flood. Paramedics couldn’t get through and she was an hour with that baby on her own. I can remember thinking that she was just unreal.” It’s overwhelmingly clear that Jacqui dedicates her life to creating a loving environment for her children. “She could be up at four or five o’clock in the morning cleaning the house because she’s that busy. Yet, she still manages to bring them to football, to swimming and parties and all of those little things that you would expect them to lose out on but they don’t.” This effort hasn’t gone unnoticed by the wider community and most importantly, her children. When Jacqui isn’t spending time with her family, she’s fundraising for a foundation very close to her heart, Irish Premature Babies. She helps run the charity’s social media campaign and every year Jacqui and her husband take part in a fundraising scheme called Ride Out For Prems. “They get sponsorship and ride around to different special care units in the country and they give money or equipment. I don’t know where she finds the energy.”

“She could be up at four or five o’clock in the morning cleaning the house because she’s that busy.”

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BEST SLEEP PRODUCT JOHNSON’S Baby Bedtime Bath Mothercare Premium Spring Interior Cot Bed Mattress Prince Lionheart Slumber Bear Premium SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe Edition

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BEST FAMILY/KIDS APP BabyDoc ChildDiary Cúlacaint3 Last Minute Minders SuperHands • VOTED ,

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BEST BABY/TODDLER TOY Bábógbaby BB Bear Bigjigs Toys Click Blocks Intermediate Bigjigs Toys Red Bus Sorter Le Toy Van Woody Woodland Book Mothercare ELC Lights & Sounds Walker

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g n i l b i Super S

OF THE YEAR WINNER: DANIELLE WALSH NOMINATED BY: MUM, TARA BRADY

When our Super Sibling of the Year winner found herself in a stressful position, she handled it with a maturity and composure that is vastly beyond her years. Her only focus was on helping her mother and unborn sister.

n January 15th, Tara Brady awoke to discover, at 30 weeks’ pregnant, she was bleeding heavily. Anxious for the life of her unborn child, she rang her husband in a state of panic. But it wasn’t long before Tara could feel the effects of her blood loss and she slowly began to lose consciousness. It was at this point that her seven-year-old daughter Danielle stepped in and took control. Danielle told her father what was going on, and her dad made contact with The Coombe Hospital in Dublin. When the hospital rang Tara’s phone, it was Danielle who answered. Speaking for her mother, this brave seven-year-old girl relayed all critical information to medical professionals. Then under instructions, hung up and called an ambulance. Tara was so exhausted from the blood loss that it became Danielle’s duty to stay on the line with paramedics until they could reach her mother’s side. “She was so good on the phone, she was able to speak, tell them where we were and give them our address. They were asking her a lot of questions such as if I was awake, and so she came and checked on me. I’m amazed by how she was able to do everything they asked of her.” Despite her heroic actions, Danielle remains com-

pletely unfazed by her actions that morning. Yet it was only her reassuring attitude that kept her mother from panicking. “She doesn’t really realise how much she helped that day,” says Tara. “She just thinks, ‘I was just talking on the phone to the hospital or I was just talking to the ambulance.’ But in reality she kept everything calm, she looked after me and her sister.” Today, Danielle continues to help in anyway she can. She has taken her role as Lexie’s big sister with great seriousness. “Ah she loves her, she sits and plays with her and if she needs anything, Danielle will go and get it. I don’t think there was ever going to be any tension between them because of everything that happened. She was so relieved when Lexie was home because she just wanted her baby sister to be OK.” This little girl displayed remarkable bravery while her mother was in grave distress. If it were not for her courage there is the very real possibility that Danielle’s baby sister would not be with her today. The bond she shares with Lexie will forever be strengthened by the events of that morning. “Both myself and Lexie want to thank her for everything she did,” says Tara. “As her family and her biggest fans we want let her know how important she is to us.” As this year’s Super Sibling of the Year, Danielle Walsh is a shining example of how one little star can light up the lives of many.

“This little girl displayed remarkable bravery while her mother was in grave distress. If it were not for her courage there is the very real possibility that Danielle’s baby sister would not be with her today.”

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MULTIPLE CRECHE OF THE YEAR Grovelands Childcare Hyde & Seek Childcare Pugwash Bay Ltd.

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BEST PAIN RELIEF FOR KIDS Baby-Vac Nasal Aspirator CALPOL Infant Sugar Free Infacol Snuffle Babe Vapour Rub

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BEST PREGNANCY SUPPLEMENT BetterYou DLuxPregnancy Daily Vitamin D Oral Spray Boots Pharmaceuticals Pregnancy Support Plus Elmtree Organics Morning Bright Organic Tea Optibac Probiotics Pregnacare Plus

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ian c i r t a Paedi

OF THE YEAR WINNER: DR JACQUES NOEL OF CRUMLIN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NOMINATED BY: MARITA O’BRIEN, ON BEHALF OF HER SON, CHARLIE

This year’s Paediatrician of the Year has showed passion, patience and professionalism when dealing with his young patient Charlie, going the extra mile in helping him develop an understanding of scoliosis on his road to recovery.

hen Marita O’Brien’s son Charlie was diagnosed with scoliosis at the tender age of three, Marita and her partner Dermot didn’t know what or where the next step was, but thanks to the guidance, care and total dedication of Dr Jacques Noel, the worried parents’ minds were put at some ease. “When Charlie was diagnosed with scoliosis we had no idea what it meant, it was like a bomb went off in our life. We didn’t even know really what the term scoliosis meant, we just thought it was associated with teenage girls. But Mr Noel was absolutely amazing, he treated us as his equal. He never spoke down to us or used really big terms that we had no understanding of. Everything was simplified with him. He just has this calming influence over you that everything will be okay.” Adding to the whirlwind and worry of appointments and visits, little Charlie had a real fear of the hospital. “Charlie used to be terrified, and it was so stressful on us, even going in for an out-patient appointment, he hated going in, but Mr

Noel had this calming influence over him, reassured him and us that everything would be okay, we’d get through it.” Dr Noel went a step further in reassuring his young patient to the point of putting a cast on Charlie’s teddy when he had to get a body cast himself. “Charlie has this teddy called Dusty, and even when Charlie had to go down and get a body cast put on him Mr Noel went to the point of putting a cast on Dusty, to make him feel better. He didn’t have to do any of that. When he’s in clinic he is so busy, but he makes it his point to see each and every one of his patients.” Dr Noel took the time to make his patient feel completely comfortable, reaching out to him and helping him develop an understanding of exactly what was happening and completely wiping away all Charlie’s fears and turning his visits into something that Charlie now looks forward to. “Charlie now loves going into Mr Noel because he has fun with him, they have a bit of craic together, they have an understanding.” Charlie and his parents feel in complete care with Dr Noel on their journey

with him and feel he has helped them so much along the way. “Mr Noel is on the same journey as us now, that’s basically what it is. He’s just taken any fear away. I really owe him a lot. He has helped my life so much as a parent, and he really does care. When he has good news for us you can see in his eyes that he’s so happy, and when he has not so good news, like the curve has increased, you can see he’s sad. I get my positivity from him and he makes you want to work harder to get results.” Charlie is very grateful to Dr. Noel for his kindness, care and patience, and calls him his hero. “Mr Noel held my hand, looked me in the eyes and told me I would be ok and he would be there every step of the way. With the help of Mr Noel I’m no longer afraid, I’m no longer having sleepless nights worrying over hospital visits because I know Mr Noel, my hero, will always be there, he’s simply amazing. I know there are millions of doctors that help their patients but Mr Noel has always gone that step further with helping me. I will always be so grateful for him.”

“Mr. Noel is on the same journey as us now, that’s basically what it is. He’s just taken any fear away.”

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an i c i r t Obste

OF THE YEAR WINNER: MAEVE EOGAN OF THE ROTUNDA HOSPITAL NOMINATED BY: PATIENT, ROSEMARY MURPHY

Our Obstetrician of the Year winner’s care, kindness, patience and willingness to go above and beyond is what led her nominator to feel totally at ease, reassured and brilliantly cared for throughout her pregnancies.

other-of-eight Rosemary Murphy wanted an obstetrician to be with her for each of her pregnancies, a familiar face whom she could rely on for comfort, professionalism, guidance and reassurance. She most definitely found this in Maeve Eogan. Maeve was the friendly face and provider of expert advice that Rosemary and her partner wanted throughout each of her last four pregnancies, who celebrated the happy times and helped them through the tougher ones. Rosemary felt at ease with Maeve, who supported her wishes throughout the years as she grew her family. “Maeve is such a fantastic obstetrician, she is really kind, caring and patient and I can’t speak highly enough of her. We have eight kids and she’s always been so supportive of us having so many kids and of what we wanted. As well as being a brilliant doctor she is also a mum herself and I really admire how dedicated she is to both her family and her job.” Maeve would constantly check in

with Rosemary to see how she was feeling and put all her worries at ease by answering every query and question with attention and professionalism. “I had no idea back then I would develop such an amazing relationship with the obstetrician we had chosen. From the very first appointment with her she made me feel completely relaxed and at ease and I enjoyed all my appointments and scans. I really felt she listened to me throughout my pregnancies and was very understanding about my fears even when she was listening to the same thing for probably the second or third time and while she was honest with me I also found her to be very reassuring.” During a very difficult time, when Rosemary and her partner tragically suffered a miscarriage, Maeve showed utmost professionalism but also utmost care, attention and kindness in how she helped them through it. “I will never forget finding out we had lost our baby but I will also never forget how kind Maeve was and her kindness really made such a difference to me at what was a very difficult

time. She handled the situation brilliantly telling me the news in the best possible way and I felt she was really there for me. She followed my lead and answered my questions without forcing information on me. My body didn’t recognise that I had lost the baby so I opted to have an ERPC procedure which Maeve did for me and she followed up with phoning me a number of times at home afterwards. Arriving at hospital that morning for the procedure was so hard and I have never been more grateful for our relationship as I was that day. Maeve met me in reception before going to the ward and she took care of me the whole time I was there.” Rosemary and her partner feel that no one deserves this award as much as Maeve for her dedication and unfaltering care, who was even with them throughout Rosemary’s recent pregnancy and for their newest little arrival, Lara. “I have no doubt in my mind that she is the most deserving person of this award. I don’t think she will ever really know how much she has helped me. She will always have a special place in our hearts.”

“Maeve has been just as excited as us about our pregnancies and births and it is so nice to have someone to share that excitement with.”

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BEST TRAVEL GADGET Baby Elegance Pram Hook Oasis Disposable Steriliser Bags Ruby and GINGER Cosy Car Seat Cover SnoozeShade Plus Deluxe Edition Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Travel Bottle and Food Warmer • VOTED ,

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BEST TRAVEL SYSTEM Baby Elegance Beep Twist Greentom Upp iCandy Peach 3 Blossom iCandy Raspberry Mothercare Roam • VOTED ,

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BEST BABY FOOD PRODUCT/RANGE Aldi’s Mamia Pouches Heavenly Tasty Organics Coconut Squishies Range Pip & Pear Chilled Baby Food Quinola Mothergrain Baby SuperValu Fruit Pouch Range

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ro e H Child

OF THE YEAR WINNER: EMILY HYLAND NOMINATED BY: MOTHER, GILL HYLAND

This year’s Child Hero of the Year, Emily Hyland, suffers with the very rare Sturge-Weber syndrome, which forced doctors and her parents into making the very difficult decision to remove half of her brain. But Emily has defied the odds to become the happy and thriving three-year-old girl she is today.

orn nine weeks early, Emily Hyland has been a battler since birth. After having to be resuscitated at birth and suffering from a lung collapse a mere 72 hours later, Emily is no stranger to recovery and determination. At four and a half months old Emily was diagnosed with the very rare Sturge-Weber syndrome, a congenital condition of unknown incidence and cause. Emily developed epilepsy with the condition and began to become unresponsive to her medication, suffering with strokes and other problems. By the time Emily was a year and a half no medication was working or could control her condition. This led to Emily’s parents and doctors making the difficult decision to remove half of her brain to save her life. “We had to choose between the operation or risking her life by continuing medications and knowing that any one seizure could take her,” her mother, Gill, explained. “By removing half her brain we also knew we would cause her to lose some vision and have

hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis). We knew she may not survive but it was a decision we had to make to give her the best chance. We didn’t know if she’d survive it, it came down to that. That was the scary part.” The surgery was major and Emily’s doctor told her parents she could lose some of her eye sight and the function in parts of her body. “She lost her peripheral vision to the right, the function of her right arm and she lost temporary function of her right leg,” Gill says. “The doctor said to us, ‘This could take years for her to recover, we don’t know for sure if will she ever walk. If she does, it could be a year, it could be three years or it could be four’, but Emily stood up on the couch after three weeks!” Emily’s determination didn’t stop there; she went on to learn to walk and talk and now the chatty and bubbly little girl attends pre-school three days a week. “Everything that was in front of her, it didn’t phase her. She had only two or three words before the surgery from all the strokes and now she’s full

of chat. To lose half your brain and get back all those functions within months is amazing. She has to compensate in ways you’d never imagine for a child, to learn how to do things, but everything that was put in front of her, she managed.” Despite having had a long and hard battle at such a tender age, Emily doesn’t let her condition stop her, preferring to do things herself without help. “She’s very determined, she doesn’t even let us help her sometimes, she likes to do it on her own.” Emily strives to be like her twin sister, a drive her mum credits as something that keeps her learning. “She has a twin sister, so she wants to be the same as her, and that’s a massive driver.” The surgery left Emily with a leftsided weakness, but she embraces everything in life to the fullest, including her win of Child Hero of the Year. “She loves it all, she’s practicing all her waving and everything! I just want to show my daughter in years to come how much she meant to us, and that she was the Child Hero of the Year and our child hero forever.”

“The surgery left Emily with a left-sided weakness, but she embraces everything in life to the fullest, including her win of Child Hero of the Year.”

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BEST STERILISER Boots Baby 2-in-1 Combination Steriliser Oasis Disposable Steriliser Bags Philips Avent Microwave Steam Steriliser Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser

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BEST NAPPY RANGE Aldi Mamia Newborn Nappies Boots Baby Active Stretch Carry Pack Nappies Lidl Toujours Midi Nappies Pampers Active Fit Nappies Wonderoos V3 Reusable Nappy • VOTED ,

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Dublin Zoo Imaginosity Dublin Children’s Museum Powerscourt Gardens & Waterfall Tayto Park Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park • VOTED ,

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BEST NURSERY PRODUCT Bigjigs Toys Red Bus Sorter BT Digital Baby Monitor 350 Lightshow Mothercare Premium Spring Interior Cot Bed Mattress Motorola MBP853 Connect Prince Lionheart Slumber Bear Premium • VOTED ,

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INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF THE YEAR Baby-Vac Nasal Aspirator CogniKids GRIP Maxi-Cosi AxissFix Pip & Pear Chilled Baby Food Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Perfect Prep

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BEST PARENTING BLOG Bumbles of Rice Chirps from a Little Red Hen Dairy Free Kids Dr. How’s Science Wows Glitter Mama Wishes Hey Ali Lady Nicci Learner Mama My Little Babog Office Mum One Yummy Mummy Stuff and Nothing The Clothes Line The Mamma Fairy Where Wishes Come From • VOTED ,

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BOOTS GRAND PRIX The Grand Prix is a special commendation for outstanding excellence in a product or service. Having received the greatest number of votes and the highest overall score from parents around Ireland across all Product Award categories, this winner is acknowledged as an innovative market leader and an outstanding contributor within this industry.

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ement v e i h Ac Outstanding

OF THE YEAR WINNER: HELENE MURCHAN, SECRETARY OFFICER TO THE PAEDIATRIC NURSES AT OUR LADY’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL NOMINATED BY: FRIEND, JOELENE MCNAMARA

This year’s Outstanding Achievement Award goes to Helene Murchan, who for over 25 years has been going above and beyond for her patients and their families at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

he McNamara family first arrived at Our Lady’s Hospital a mere matter of hours after they welcomed their little prince, Rían McNamara into the world, on June 15th, 2012. Rían was rushed to hospital after doctors discovered he was born with serious heart problems. “We were told by doctors in Waterford that he may not survive the journey to Dublin and to prepare for the worst,” says mum Joelene. But they didn’t know what a little fighter we had and that evening our little man made it to the hospital to settle in for what would be the first of many visits to Crumlin Hospital. “The first time anyone arrives at a hospital it’s overwhelming, the doctors were speaking to us but what they were saying was going over our heads. We were in complete shock, but soon enough Helene came in, like the shining star she is, and she explained everything to us in layman’s terms, she drew diagrams, she hugged us and she set us up with absolutely everything we could need for the fight ahead but most importantly she gave us hope. We knew she was someone we would feel comfortable asking questions to and she

immediately made us feel a little more at ease, as she does with all the families she worked with.” And so the family began their long journey. Rían was born with Pulmonary Atresia, which means the valve from his heart to his lungs had never developed properly and his body wasn’t getting enough oxygen to survive. Helene was appointed the family’s liaison nurse, but she quickly became a treasured friend too. Rían had his first open heart surgery at just five weeks old and again at 10 months and after four weeks, their little fighter Rían was home again. But sadly, worse news was to come. “Last July, at a routine appointment we were told Rían needed emergency surgery,” Joelene says. “The operation was a success but his heart was very damaged. Sadly, a week later following a cardiac arrest we said goodbye to the light of our lives as Rían passed away peacefully and surrounded by love in our arms.” In the midst of the darkness there was still hope in the form of Helene and the amazing ICU team in Crumlin hospital. “We often laugh that she must have secret passage ways through the halls of Crum-

lin hospital because she just appears out of nowhere. She’s the person that’s still there at 11pm checking on all the babies and their parents, she’s there again first thing in the morning, she’s even there on her days off! Helene is the definition of dedication wrapped up in a force to be reckoned with. “After Rían passed away, there wasn’t a week that went by that she didn’t give a quick phone call to tell me she was thinking of our little prince. Even on the days where I couldn’t face answering the phone she would leave a message. “I know this isn’t just a job for Helene, I know that when she goes home, in the late of the night, she doesn’t forget about the children she’s left behind. She brings them home in her heart, she says a little prayer for them and the next morning she is right there by their sides, even when nobody sees her. She does this for each and every family she assigned to. Because to her it’s not a job, it’s her life. There is a corner of my heart that holds the most special place for Helene, not only for caring for Rían while he was alive, but for loving him as we did and for remembering him like we do.”

“There is a corner of my heart that holds the most special place for Helene.”

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rit e M Special

OF THE YEAR WINNER: FÉILEACÁIN NOMINATED BY: SARAH BARTON

This year’s Special Merit Award goes to Féileacáin, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby during or after pregnancy.

éileacáin was nominated by Sarah Barton for the special impact and role the organisation played in the most heartbreaking event in her life. At 23 weeks’ gestation, Sarah and her partner sadly lost their baby. “As we cried together and I held our special little boy in my arms, our amazing midwife Tara asked if we had ever heard of Féileacáin,” says Sarah. Féileacáin is an organisation that supplies special memory boxes in maternity hospitals for parents who have stillborn babies. The grieving couple were given a beautiful box to fill with special memories of their baby boy, Adam. Just some of the items in the box are a hand knitted blanket; teddies, one for baby and one for parents; a tiny box to store a lock of baby’s hair; camera; handmade card; candle; butterfly poem cards; a finger and foot printing kit and leaflets outlining all of the amazing support Féileacáin offers to grieving parents. “Due to being 23 weeks pregnant, I did not have any clothes or teddies or anything with me for my baby. As a mother, that hurt, you want to protect your child and give them everything. Having that box from Féileacáin

meant I could put a little hat on his head, wrap him in a beautiful hand knitted blanket, put a teddy by his side and take photos of our precious baby to keep with us forever. I treasured that box and I still do. It was like a beacon of light at a very dark time. “At a time of despair, sheer grief and anguish, I was overwhelmed that outside of the wonderful hospital staff, there were other people who cared about what had just happened and had organised these wonderful memory boxes for parents who experienced such tragedy,” says Sarah. Féileacáin was formed by a group of bereaved parents who supported each other after the death of their own babies and have now come together to formally offer support to other parents and families who find themselves in a similar situation. The aim of the organisation is to offer a befriending service and support helpline; host regular support meetings in a safe and confidential setting; promote research into the causes of stillbirth and neonatal death and hold remembrance services and family events. Sarah and many other parents who have found themselves in this terribly sad situation are forever grateful for the touching gesture given to them by Féileacáin.

“Sarah and many other parents who have found themselves in this terribly sad situation are forever grateful...”

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Parenting Club is exclusive to Boots Advantage Card holders who are pregnant or have a child under 3. Offers are available through the Boots App and Parenting Club emails only. We will only send you Parenting Club emails if a valid email address has been provided. Email communications will cease as your child turns 2. For full latest terms and conditions see boots. ie/parentingclub. Featured products available in larger Boots stores and on boots.ie, subject to availability.

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