‘I feel helpless – Joleen is on a life support machine and her brain is badly damaged’

‘I feel helpless – Joleen is on a life support machine and her brain is badly damaged’

14 December 2016

THE mother of a Downpatrick woman who was critically injured in an attack at her home in the town two weeks ago said she “feels so helpless.”

Joleen Corr, who remains in intensive care at the Royal Victoria Hospital, was attacked in her Thomas Russell Park home on December 2. A man has since been charged with attempted murder.

Joleen’s mother Carol — who is keeping a vigil at her daughter’s bedside — said in an interview last week that “she wouldn’t wish this on anyone in the world.”

She continued: “Everyone keeps telling me to stay positive but how can I? How can I be positive when my daughter is lying in intensive care? My heart is breaking and there is nothing I can do to help her. I never thought I would see the day my daughter is lying there in intensive care with tubes coming out of her to keep her alive.”

Mrs Corr explained medical staff had taken Joleen off her sedation but then had to put her back on it because of the pressure inside her head.

“We’ve said a million prayers, taken all the medals we can find to her bedside. Her daddy and me have been beside her every second we can, hoping for a miracle,” said her distraught mum.

Mrs Corr said she just wants to make everything better for her daughter, 

explaining that while Joleen is 26, she is still her “wee girl.”

The devastated mother said she wants to hold her daughter and “make it all better,” explaining Joleen recently celebrated her 26th birthday and her parents took her out for a meal when they had a lovely time with her. She explained that the day before the incident in her home, Joleen had returned to Downpatrick.

“I feel so helpless. Joleen is on a life support machine and they say her brain is badly damaged. I don’t know whether I am coming or going; it’s breaking my heart to see her like this,” she said.

She added: “Joleen’s a lovely wee girl, so happy. She loved dancing and she loved her wee boy so much. He is two-and-a-half and he idolises his mummy. He always feels safe when he is with her. Now he keeps crying for her.”