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BEING A DAD can be amazing, exciting, tiring, emotional and unpredictable.
For fathers whose children are ill, it can be even more fraught with emotion.
Today is Father’s Day, and some dads will be spending it in hospital with their ill child.
At Temple St Children’s Hospital, you’ll meet dads from around the country caring for their children. Whether their little ones are recovering from operations, receiving dialysis, getting treatment after a diagnosis, or are poorly just after being born, the hospital is there to help.
We visited Temple St to meet some of the dads, and to find out what being a father means to them. As you can see, it was quite an emotional experience.
Paul McCaughey, whose seven-week-old daughter Ruby is getting ready to be brought home, said:
“It has been great, sometimes the fathers don’t get realised but in here in Temple St the girls have been fantastic so you haven’t been left out, the girls have been here – they’ve been including you in everything that needs to be done, decision making, so we haven’t really been left out but to get to the end of this stage now will be great. And just be home and do our own thing and curl up on the sofa and have us time.”
Filming, editing and additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy
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Been there. Many years ago my son who is Autistic needed a small surgical procedure but because of his autism it was a major drama in almost every sence of the word. Every single member of staff on that unit could not have been more understanding, decent and caring. I’ve never forgotten it and never will. Words truly cannot express my feelings towards all the staff there!! s
Fair play lad. I can’t imagine how it feels for ye and hope I never do. But on a kind of funny note I’ve two boys eldest going on 5 youngest just gone 2. Since the eldest has been born I’ve been at Shannon Doc every fathers day as one of the two has been really sick. I joked with the wife last Sunday saying I won’t bother with Limerick V Tipperary as I’ll be in Shannon Doc Sunday and we laughed. Thursday the eldest lad arrived home from montessori hoarse and coughing and said to myself your having a fuking laugh. Fingers crossed. Best of luck to all dad’s and mammys and of course children in the hospitals tomorrow and get well soon.
Ah John I know the feeling. Tho ours always seem to get a temp Christmas Eve. You can plan nothing with the little yokes. Though at the end of the day thats nothing at all compared to what some dad’s and mom’s have to endure. Happy Fathers Day to all the wonderful Dad’s out there. We would be lost without Daddy
Know well what you’re saying John. I’m a single Dad of Dad of three. Two girls and one boy. Now when I say three I’m slightly exaggerating as my oldest is 21 this year and happily employed and doing her own thing but for some insane reason every Fathers Day for the last four years one of my other two has ended up in hospital on that particular day. My sister is staying over tonight just in case. And we are both nurses! Fingers crossed and for you also!
Just as a little appendage or ad lib to this.. My father died in “88 many years after my Mother in “74. He brought me up on his own and sacrificed so much to make me the man I am now. Year’s later history repeated itself as it’s wont! I diddn’t know dispair, I thought of my Dad, I picked up the hurt and got on as you have to. So to all the Dad’s out there on Father’s Day Rock on guys!! We count! My tuppence worth!
*despair
stop cutting onions
Bearass Wow.. Your dad did a wonderful job raising you obviously.. Happy Fathers Day.. I genuinely mean that.. I think dad’s are underestimated.. A good friend who was a dad of five girls had an awful time about ten years ago. Their mum and his wife left them for a toy boy. He raised the girls on his own and they are all married now (2 guards and 3 nurses) and they all adore their dad and get on well with their mum thanks to outstanding fathering.. Happy Fathers Day to the many wonderful Fathers ww know
Hats off lad of good stock.
Gorgeous video fair play to all the hard working, involved dads out there!
There’s something in my eye…
Happy Father’s Day all daddy’s. We couldn’t do without yas.
#Heros❤️
got something in my eye
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