In August 2017, shortly after returning from a holiday in Greece, 23 year old Chloe Greene from Mullingar, had a stroke at home. She was brought to Mullingar Hospital initially but when scans showed a clot on her brain she was ambulanced with police escort to Beaumont Hospital.

Chloe underwent two thrombectomy procedures (in which a clot blocking blood flow to the brain is removed and blood flow restored) and was placed in an induced coma for two weeks in ICU to allow her body time to recover. However, she continued to experience very high temperatures while there and was put under the care of the Infectious Diseases (ID) Dept. Further examination as to the cause of the high temperatures revealed that she had an abscess on her spine. As the source of the infection was unknown, Chloe was treated with multiple forms of antibiotics but in November she began to lose movement in her limbs. Over time, she required three spinal surgeries to successfully remove the abscess. Her spinal cord was so compressed that it was described as being ‘ribbon thin’ and her surgeons were amazed that she was able to walk at all.

Finally the Infectious Diseases team had enough samples to discover the name of the fungal infection she had which is called Aspergillus. The fungus is one that is found commonly in the air all around us. It is very rare that it should cause such an infection. It was very hard to diagnose but once it was discovered it was possible to treat effectively.

Chloe thanked the three consultants who looked after her from the Infectious Disease Dept, Eoghan de Barra and Sam McConkey, Consultants in Infectious Diseases and Cora McNally, Consultant Physician, saying, “It was due to the immense hard work and dedication of the ID team that we finally knew what type of infection it was. I trusted that would get me through it. I am honoured to be able to stand here today and present my heroes who have gone way beyond their call of duty”.