A Co Down woman has spoken of her joy at finally returning home, nine months after she was left seriously ill following a fall on holiday in Lanzarote.
Lisa Tumilty said it “feels great” to be back at her house in Annaclone after spending several months recovering in hospital.
“I got home last Thursday and it’s a wonderful feeling to be back,” she said.
Ms Tumilty (45), a cancer care nurse at Belfast City Hospital, had travelled to Lanzarote with her husband, Michael, for a week-long break on March 2.
But just three days later, she fell down three steps while returning to her hotel after dinner.
She was initially taken to a nearby hospital, but due to the severity of her injury she was airlifted to the University Hospital of Gran Canaria Dr Negrín in Las Palmas where she was admitted to the intensive care unit.
Doctors later reduced her sedation and her condition continued to improve to allow her to be able to fly back by air ambulance to Northern Ireland in April to carry on her treatment.
Ms Tumilty spent a week in Craigavon Hospital, before being transferred to Musgrave Hospital in Belfast in May, where she has spent the last few months undergoing rehabilitation.
“I’m feeling well, I’ve still work to do but I’m getting there,” she said.
“I’ve still to walk on my own, I’m using a rollator at the minute.
“But when I think back to when I came home to Northern Ireland, I had to use a hoist and a bed pan, so I know that I have come far.”
Ms Tumilty said it was a wonderful feeling to be back home to Annaclone and close to family and friends again.
“I got home last Thursday and it’s a wonderful feeling to be back,” she said.
“It feels great to be home, it’s good to see everyone again.
“I just want to thank everyone, friends and neighbours and so many people I don’t even know, for all the support. And to all the staff in the Royal and City Hospital as well as Musgrave, I really appreciate everything that has been done to help me.
“I only heard long after what happened me about the GoFundMe page set up, people were so generous and really helped my family when I was ill, I really appreciate everything.
“And thank you to everyone for their prayers, I would not have been able to get this far without them.”
Ms Tumilty added that she was now looking forward to Christmas at home.
“I will be with my family over Christmas, which will be lovely,” she said.
“It has been a hard few months, but it’s great to be home.”
