WITH each punch thrown Oonagh Megoran moves a step closer to finding peace.
Since the death of her 12 year-old son nearly two years ago, the Crossgar postwoman has found her own way of working through the pain, and she’s sticking to it.
Joining the East Down Boxing Club at the suggestion of a friend was initially a way of forcing herself out of the house. Now she says it was the best thing she’s ever done.
Michael suffered from the rare and often terminal Hunter Disease, which affects one in every 100,000 male births. It meant he was deficient in an enzyme which was essential in breaking down chains of sugar molecules called Mucopolysaccharides. Babies may show little sign of the disease but as cells gradually become damaged developmental problems emerge followed by severe progressive physical problems.
“The Society for Mucopolysaccharide Diseases in England were fantastic and would be over twice a year,” said Oonagh. “Michael needed 24/7 care and was in a wheelchair, but he had a blast. He went horse riding, swimming, and he went to school at Knockevin. He thoroughly enjoyed it there, though his understanding was not good.
“I was badly shaken when he died, it was a very sudden death.”
Oonagh, who is known for her infectious smile and boundless energy on her postal rounds over the past 16 years, suddenly found life unbearable.
“It is the worst thing that could ever happen to you,” she confirmed. “You never get over it. I know I haven’t so far. You have this idea that you should die before your child not the other way round. It is hard to accept.
“I wasn’t coping, and I thought there was no point to life to be honest.
“I went back to work a month after he died and that helped a bit, it got me out and work was fantastic. But it was more the boxing that really helped me, before that I felt frustrated.”
Oonagh knew the club had started up on Crossgar’s Downpatrick Road and toyed with the idea of joining four months after Michael’s death.
“I didn’t really watch boxing and didn’t really know what to expect, would it be torture?” she said.
“It turned out there is circuit running and jogging when you go in. It is a complete body work out, then you move on to the bags and pads.”
Coached by Martin Kayes and Sean Bell, Oonagh found herself in a whole new world, which helped concentrate mind and body.
“Everything just came out on to the poor bag,” she said. “It was just as if I had a weight lifted off my shoulders. Instead of hitting my head off the wall, I thought, at least this is soft.
“And every day Michael is with me 100 per cent. I can still hear him laughing away.
Oonagh says she hasn’t decided whether she’s ready yet to go into competitions alongside other clubs and is currently simply enjoying her sport.
“I have only been sparring with the ones down in the club,” she said. “I do thoroughly enjoy it, though. I would recommend it to anybody.
“It was scary going the first night but then it got a bit easier.
“East Down Boxing Club have been a great support, they have been brilliant. I don’t think I know anybody who has gone one night and left. It is something you very much build up to in terms of fitness.
“My friends and family have also been very supportive.”
And even if boxing isn’t your thing, Oonagh recommends finding any sport you enjoy.
“It is something to concentrate on,” she said. “When I was down I was consumed with everything that was going through my head. I just needed something else to distract me.
“It is a good way of getting fit even if you have not experienced grief. East Down Boxing Club provides a fantastic way of getting fit and everybody is welcome.
“It certainly keeps me in good shape for delivering the mail and with Christmas coming up I’ll have to keep getting into the ring and battering that punchbag.”
East Down Boxing Club, which can be found on Facebook, meets on Monday Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesdays at 7pm is a ladies only night.