A grateful man is a happy man
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The Forde family at the function in Bartley’s Bar, Drumcree.Image 2 of 2
At the handover of a cheque by Joe and Bernie Forde to Lorraine Claffey, Irish Heart Foundation, in Bartley’s Bar, Drumcree were (from left) Lorraine Claffey, IHF, Oliver Greengrass (organiser), Tracey Heffernan, Joe Forde, Bernie Forde, Amanda Forde.A grateful man is a happy man, and Joe Forde of Hiskinstown, Delvin is both of those.
In 2018, at the age of 54 (the same age as his mother died from a heart attack), Joe suffered a massive heart attack. Happily the outcome was different from that of his late mother, Mary.
It was touch and go for four days whether Joe would make it. His close-knit family kept vigil in and around the ICU in Mullingar hospital, before the patient was stable enough to be moved to St James’s Hospital, Dublin.
Right throughout that critical period, the family will never forget the prayers and kindness of neighbours and friends and the marvellous work done by the medical staff both in Mullingar and St James’s.
Joe Forde beat the odds and survived – only to be hit by another heart attack the following year. That one wasn’t as bad; the support system was in place and Joe and Bernie were better prepared for the possibility. Joe escaped unscathed. Not only that, but within weeks, he was back working at his machinery contracting business.
Joe celebrated his 60th birthday at the end of January, and it was a party with a difference. Helped by close friend, Oliver Greengrass, the family turned the celebration into a fundraiser for the Irish Heart Foundation.
“The Irish Heart Foundation, saved my life; without them I would not be here tonight,” stated Joe, in an emotionally filled short address to the gathering.
“That is why the thoughts of my family were with the IHF on my significant birthday; and why, through the organisational skills of Oliver, we turned it into a fundraiser, which raised over €8000 for the foundation.”
So on Saturday night March 16, Lorraine Claffey, representing the Irish Heart Foundation, was presented with a cheque for €8,020 by Joe Forde and his family at a warm and happy little function in Bartley’s Bar, Drumcree.
Heart problems run in Joe Forde’s family – as it does in many Irish families. Joe’s final words on the night were for any family with a history of heart trouble.
“Don’t wait for it to happen,” advised Joe. “Get yourself checked and monitored, and thanks to the incredible medical personnel we are blessed with in this country, backed up by the Irish Heart Foundation, it is possible to live a long and normal life.”
Joe Forde is a walking example of what good care, and a positive attitude can do for a person.
All Joe’s friends wish him many more happy birthdays like this one.