Teen who died suddenly during Leaving Cert saved two lives
A sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that Sarah-Kate O'Meara had begun taking a common combined oral contraceptive, Ovreena, about a month before her death.
An inquest on Friday into her death heard the Glen Rovers camogie player would also have been at an increased risk of blood clots due to a previously unknown genetic condition as well as a period of relative inactivity while studying for exams.
A postmortem on the body of the teenager showed she died from a lack of oxygen to the brain which was due to blood clots in her right lung and in veins on the surface of her brain.
The 18-year-old student from Baker's Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital after becoming unwell at her home on the morning of June 10, 2024 just before she was due to sit a Maths paper in her Leaving Certificate exams at Mount Mercy College.
Ms O'Meara was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin the following day for specialist care but her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died on June 17 last year – four days after her 18th birthday. The deceased's mother, Diann O'Meara, told the inquest that her daughter – one of five children – was a healthy teenager who was very sporty by playing camogie, running and going to the gym.
She said Sarah-Kate was 'so health conscious' that she would give out to the rest of her family about putting salt and butter on their food.
Ms O'Meara recalled her daughter giving a small cough after coming into the kitchen at around 8.25am on June 10, 2024 with a study folder under her arm. She told the inquest that Sarah-Kate then fell helplessly to the ground as if she had fainted. Ms O'Meara said she screamed for her husband, Tony, to help before their daughter started speaking, although she still appeared somewhat disoriented.
After being moved to a couch, the teenager told her parents that she felt like something was stuck in her chest but was concerned about going to school for her exam. Ms O'Meara said her daughter vomited shortly after she had given her some Lucozade and Calpol.
A short time later, they called an ambulance after her lips went blue and her skin turned grey and she went into convulsions. Breaking down in tears at regular intervals as she recalled the tragic events, Ms O'Meara said her husband started CPR on their daughter and was later assisted by a pharmacist from a nearby chemist's.
However, Sarah-Kate was unresponsive by the time that paramedics arrived at their home. Ms O'Meara revealed that they decided to donate their daughter's organs to help others after being informed by doctors at the Mater that the chances of her recovering were unlikely.
In reply to questions from the coroner, Clare Keane, she said there was nothing to suggest there was anything amiss with her daughter's health in the days before her collapse. Ms O'Meara outlined how Sarah-Kate had visited the Parklands Surgery in Cork the previous month to arrange to start taking a contraceptive pill.
The inquest heard she was on no other medication at the time of her death apart from an occasional protein supplement and had no history of blood clots. Ms O'Meara said Sarah-Kate had suffered from migraine for a number of years but had no longer required treatment for it since 2017.
A Cork-based GP, Caroline Burke, gave evidence of prescribing Ovreena to the teenager following a detailed consultation on May 13, 2024. Dr Burke said the teenager wanted to go on the pill to lighten her periods as well as for contraceptive purposes.
The doctor told the inquest that she went through the various options for contraception and a detailed set of questions that covered possible risk factors as well as checking the patient's blood pressure and weight.
Dr Burke said she had discussed the patient's previous history of migraine but was reassured that she had not suffered the specific type of migraine that posed a particular risk.
The inquest heard that Sarah-Kate was given a prescription for one month for Ovreena and had booked a follow-up check for one month later. Dr Burke told the coroner that Ovreena was 'the safest first line option' for the combined oral contraceptive pill.
A consultant cardiologist at CUH, Gerry Fahy, told the hearing that the teenager's poor condition on arrival at the hospital had required her to be defibrillated 15 times over a 90-minute period.
Dr Fahy said doctors were not aware at the time of the underlying cause of what happened and originally believed it was due to inflammation of the heart muscle before it became clearer that it could be due to blood clots.
He explained that the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation – a rare condition where the blood is prone to both clotting and bleeding at the same time – which posed major challenges in providing regular treatment for clots.
A consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at the Mater, Deirdre Edgeworth, gave evidence that the patient was deemed suitable for treatment with the hospital's ECMO machine – which diverts blood away from the lungs and heart – for patients with cardiac conditions that are considered reversible.
A consultant cardiologist at the Mater, Katie Murphy, said Sarah-Kate had no signs of any underlying cardiac condition.
Dr Murphy said the patient's cardiac function had improved with the ECMO treatment but the neurological injuries she had suffered as a result of the cardiac event had proven fatal. The cardiologist said she believed the cause of the blood clots were 'multi-factorial' including the patient's use of an oral contraceptive pill and not being as active as normal due to her studies.
Dr Murphy also revealed that testing had shown Sarah-Kate had a genetic abnormality known as Factor V Leiden which placed her at an increased risk of blood clots. Recording a narrative verdict to reflect the complexity of the evidence, Dr Keane said she noted the significant finding in relation to Factor V Leiden.
The coroner also observed that there was a known increased risk of blood clots with the combined oral contraceptive pill. Dr Keane reecorded that the potential side effects of the pill had been explained to the teenager and that it had been prescribed at a time when her genetic abnormality was unknown.
The inquest heard that the donation of the deceased's kidneys had saved the lives of two other patients. Offering her condolences to the student's family, Dr Keane said she was so sorry 'for the heartbreaking loss of your vibrant daughter.' Ms O'Meara replied: 'It's the world's loss – not just ours. She had so much to offer.'
Her family had originally sought an adjournment of the inquest after only receiving a copy of Dr Burke's deposition just before the hearing which had left them 'taken aback.'
However, they decided to allow the inquest to proceed after the coroner informed them they could ask questions about any evidence.
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Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Cork girl's sudden death may be linked to contraceptive pill and unknown genetic condition, inquest told
The sudden death of a healthy young student from Cork in the middle of her Leaving Certificate exams last year may be linked to both a previously unknown genetic abnormality and an oral contraceptive pill, an inquest has heard. A sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that Sarah-Kate O'Meara had begun taking a common combined oral contraceptive, Ovreena, about a month before her death. An inquest on Friday into her death heard the Glen Rovers camogie player would also have been at an increased risk of blood clots due to a previously unknown genetic condition as well as a period of relative inactivity while studying for exams. An autopsy showed she died from a lack of oxygen to the brain which was due to blood clots in her right lung and in veins on the surface of her brain. The 18-year-old student from Baker's Rd, Gurranabraher, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital after becoming unwell at her home on the morning of June 10, 2024, just before she was due to sit a Leaving Certificate maths paper at Mount Mercy College. Ms O'Meara was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin the following day for specialist care but her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died on June 17 — just four days after her 18th birthday. The deceased's mother, Diann O'Meara, told the inquest that her daughter — one of five children — was a healthy teenager who was very sporty by playing camogie, running, and going to the gym. 'Health conscious' She said Sarah-Kate was 'so health conscious' that she would give out to the rest of her family about putting salt and butter on their food. Ms O'Meara recalled her daughter giving a small cough after coming into the kitchen at around 8.25am on June 10, 2024, with a study folder under her arm. She told the inquest that Sarah-Kate then fell helplessly to the ground as if she had fainted. Ms O'Meara said she screamed for her husband, Tony, to help before their daughter started speaking, although she still appeared somewhat disoriented. After being moved to a couch, the teenager told her parents that she felt like something was stuck in her chest but was concerned about going to school for her exam. Ms O'Meara said her daughter vomited shortly after she had given her some Lucozade and Calpol. A short time later, they called an ambulance after her lips went blue and her skin turned grey and she went into convulsions. Breaking down in tears at regular intervals as she recalled the tragic events, Ms O'Meara said her husband started CPR on their daughter and was later assisted by a pharmacist from a nearby chemist. However, Sarah-Kate was unresponsive by the time that paramedics arrived at their home. Ms O'Meara revealed that they decided to donate their daughter's organs to help others after being informed by doctors at the Mater that the chances of her recovering were unlikely. In reply to questions from the coroner, Clare Keane, she said there was nothing to suggest there was anything amiss with her daughter's health in the days before her collapse. Ms O'Meara outlined how Sarah-Kate had visited the Parklands Surgery in Cork the previous month to arrange to start taking a contraceptive pill. No history of blood clots The inquest heard she was on no other medication at the time of her death apart from an occasional protein supplement and had no history of blood clots. Ms O'Meara said Sarah-Kate had suffered from migraine for a number of years but had no longer required treatment for it since 2017. A Cork-based GP, Caroline Burke, gave evidence of prescribing Ovreena to the teenager following a detailed consultation on May 13, 2024. Dr Burke said the teenager wanted to go on the pill to lighten her periods as well as for contraceptive purposes. The doctor told the inquest that she went through the various options for contraception and a detailed set of questions that covered possible risk factors as well as checking the patient's blood pressure and weight. Dr Burke said she had discussed the patient's previous history of migraine but was reassured that she had not suffered the specific type of migraine that posed a particular risk. The inquest heard that Sarah-Kate was given a prescription for one month for Ovreena and had booked a follow-up check for one month later. Dr Burke told the coroner that Ovreena was 'the safest first line option' for the combined oral contraceptive pill. A consultant cardiologist at CUH, Gerry Fahy, told the hearing that the teenager's poor condition on arrival at the hospital had required her to be defibrillated 15 times over a 90-minute period. Dr Fahy said doctors were not aware at the time of the underlying cause of what happened and originally believed it was due to inflammation of the heart muscle before it became clearer that it could be due to blood clots. He explained that the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation — a rare condition where the blood is prone to both clotting and bleeding at the same time — which posed major challenges in providing regular treatment for clots. A consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at the Mater, Deirdre Edgeworth, gave evidence that the patient was deemed suitable for treatment with the hospital's ECMO machine — which diverts blood away from the lungs and heart — for patients with cardiac conditions that are considered reversible. A consultant cardiologist at the Mater, Katie Murphy, said Sarah-Kate had no signs of any underlying cardiac condition. Dr Murphy said the patient's cardiac function had improved with the ECMO treatment but the neurological injuries she had suffered as a result of the cardiac event had proven fatal. The cardiologist said she believed the cause of the blood clots were 'multi-factorial' including the patient's use of an oral contraceptive pill and not being as active as normal due to her studies. Genetic abnormality Dr Murphy also revealed that testing had shown Sarah-Kate had a genetic abnormality known as Factor V Leiden which placed her at an increased risk of blood clots. Recording a narrative verdict to reflect the complexity of the evidence, Dr Keane said she noted the significant finding in relation to Factor V Leiden. The coroner also observed that there was a known increased risk of blood clots with the combined oral contraceptive pill. Dr Keane reecorded that the potential side effects of the pill had been explained to the teenager and that it had been prescribed at a time when her genetic abnormality was unknown. The inquest heard that the donation of the deceased's kidneys had saved the lives of two other patients. Offering her condolences to the student's family, Dr Keane said she was so sorry 'for the heartbreaking loss of your vibrant daughter.' Ms O'Meara replied: 'It's the world's loss — not just ours. She had so much to offer.' Her family had originally sought an adjournment of the inquest after only receiving a copy of Dr Burke's deposition just before the hearing which had left them 'taken aback'. However, they decided to allow the inquest to proceed after the coroner informed them they could ask questions about any evidence.
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teen who died suddenly during Leaving Cert saved two lives
The sudden death of a healthy young student from Cork in the middle of her Leaving Certificate exams last year may be linked to both a previously unknown genetic abnormality and an oral contraceptive pill, an inquest has heard. A sitting of Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that Sarah-Kate O'Meara had begun taking a common combined oral contraceptive, Ovreena, about a month before her death. An inquest on Friday into her death heard the Glen Rovers camogie player would also have been at an increased risk of blood clots due to a previously unknown genetic condition as well as a period of relative inactivity while studying for exams. A postmortem on the body of the teenager showed she died from a lack of oxygen to the brain which was due to blood clots in her right lung and in veins on the surface of her brain. The 18-year-old student from Baker's Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, was rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital after becoming unwell at her home on the morning of June 10, 2024 just before she was due to sit a Maths paper in her Leaving Certificate exams at Mount Mercy College. Ms O'Meara was transferred to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin the following day for specialist care but her condition subsequently deteriorated and she died on June 17 last year – four days after her 18th birthday. The deceased's mother, Diann O'Meara, told the inquest that her daughter – one of five children – was a healthy teenager who was very sporty by playing camogie, running and going to the gym. She said Sarah-Kate was 'so health conscious' that she would give out to the rest of her family about putting salt and butter on their food. Ms O'Meara recalled her daughter giving a small cough after coming into the kitchen at around 8.25am on June 10, 2024 with a study folder under her arm. She told the inquest that Sarah-Kate then fell helplessly to the ground as if she had fainted. Ms O'Meara said she screamed for her husband, Tony, to help before their daughter started speaking, although she still appeared somewhat disoriented. After being moved to a couch, the teenager told her parents that she felt like something was stuck in her chest but was concerned about going to school for her exam. Ms O'Meara said her daughter vomited shortly after she had given her some Lucozade and Calpol. A short time later, they called an ambulance after her lips went blue and her skin turned grey and she went into convulsions. Breaking down in tears at regular intervals as she recalled the tragic events, Ms O'Meara said her husband started CPR on their daughter and was later assisted by a pharmacist from a nearby chemist's. However, Sarah-Kate was unresponsive by the time that paramedics arrived at their home. Ms O'Meara revealed that they decided to donate their daughter's organs to help others after being informed by doctors at the Mater that the chances of her recovering were unlikely. In reply to questions from the coroner, Clare Keane, she said there was nothing to suggest there was anything amiss with her daughter's health in the days before her collapse. Ms O'Meara outlined how Sarah-Kate had visited the Parklands Surgery in Cork the previous month to arrange to start taking a contraceptive pill. The inquest heard she was on no other medication at the time of her death apart from an occasional protein supplement and had no history of blood clots. Ms O'Meara said Sarah-Kate had suffered from migraine for a number of years but had no longer required treatment for it since 2017. A Cork-based GP, Caroline Burke, gave evidence of prescribing Ovreena to the teenager following a detailed consultation on May 13, 2024. Dr Burke said the teenager wanted to go on the pill to lighten her periods as well as for contraceptive purposes. The doctor told the inquest that she went through the various options for contraception and a detailed set of questions that covered possible risk factors as well as checking the patient's blood pressure and weight. Dr Burke said she had discussed the patient's previous history of migraine but was reassured that she had not suffered the specific type of migraine that posed a particular risk. The inquest heard that Sarah-Kate was given a prescription for one month for Ovreena and had booked a follow-up check for one month later. Dr Burke told the coroner that Ovreena was 'the safest first line option' for the combined oral contraceptive pill. A consultant cardiologist at CUH, Gerry Fahy, told the hearing that the teenager's poor condition on arrival at the hospital had required her to be defibrillated 15 times over a 90-minute period. Dr Fahy said doctors were not aware at the time of the underlying cause of what happened and originally believed it was due to inflammation of the heart muscle before it became clearer that it could be due to blood clots. He explained that the patient developed disseminated intravascular coagulation – a rare condition where the blood is prone to both clotting and bleeding at the same time – which posed major challenges in providing regular treatment for clots. A consultant intensivist and anaesthetist at the Mater, Deirdre Edgeworth, gave evidence that the patient was deemed suitable for treatment with the hospital's ECMO machine – which diverts blood away from the lungs and heart – for patients with cardiac conditions that are considered reversible. A consultant cardiologist at the Mater, Katie Murphy, said Sarah-Kate had no signs of any underlying cardiac condition. Dr Murphy said the patient's cardiac function had improved with the ECMO treatment but the neurological injuries she had suffered as a result of the cardiac event had proven fatal. The cardiologist said she believed the cause of the blood clots were 'multi-factorial' including the patient's use of an oral contraceptive pill and not being as active as normal due to her studies. Dr Murphy also revealed that testing had shown Sarah-Kate had a genetic abnormality known as Factor V Leiden which placed her at an increased risk of blood clots. Recording a narrative verdict to reflect the complexity of the evidence, Dr Keane said she noted the significant finding in relation to Factor V Leiden. The coroner also observed that there was a known increased risk of blood clots with the combined oral contraceptive pill. Dr Keane reecorded that the potential side effects of the pill had been explained to the teenager and that it had been prescribed at a time when her genetic abnormality was unknown. The inquest heard that the donation of the deceased's kidneys had saved the lives of two other patients. Offering her condolences to the student's family, Dr Keane said she was so sorry 'for the heartbreaking loss of your vibrant daughter.' Ms O'Meara replied: 'It's the world's loss – not just ours. She had so much to offer.' Her family had originally sought an adjournment of the inquest after only receiving a copy of Dr Burke's deposition just before the hearing which had left them 'taken aback.' However, they decided to allow the inquest to proceed after the coroner informed them they could ask questions about any evidence.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Acupuncture helped me recover from cancer like Kate – it eases the agony I'm left facing and means I can walk
WE are living in what experts are calling a 'golden age' of cancer treatment. New medicines are being developed every year, and half of patients diagnosed now survive for ten years or more — up from 24 per cent in the 1970s. 4 Kate Middleton revealed she had acupuncture as part of her recovery from cancer Credit: Getty 4 Like the Princess of Wales, Paige Nunu turned to acupuncture after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust But cancer remains the UK's biggest killer and researchers are seeking ways to change this. This week, the Princess of Wales revealed she had acupuncture as part of her recovery from cancer. Kate, 43, told patients at a cancer wellbeing centre at Colchester Hospital she'd tried the traditional Chinese medicine, which uses thin needles inserted into parts of the body to relieve pain and promote healing. Kate said: 'Looking at it from a mind, body and spiritual perspective really matters.' READ MORE ON CANCER Like the Princess of Wales, Paige Nunu turned to acupuncture after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma — a type of cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes. Nerve pain Administering the treatment herself is not something the 32-year-old ever thought she would do. But Paige, from Stockport, has been taught how to do it at The Christie hospital in Manchester to deal with the severe pain she has been left with after chemotherapy. Diagnosed in 2022 after having symptoms for 12 months, Paige's prognosis meant aggressive treatment was her best option. Most read in Health The pain was so bad some days that even walking was difficult. I was offered medication, but I wanted a more holistic approach Paige 'I was stage four when I was told I had cancer,' the mum-of-one tells Sun on Sunday Health. 'It wasn't put down to cancer for quite a while. It meant I had to have intense chemotherapy that escalated. Every dose was stronger than the last, which came at a cost.' Princess Kate issued a clear warning shot with her cancer comments - it's time people took note Left with nerve pain in her hands and feet, and fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain, Paige turned to acupuncture. She says: 'The pain was so bad some days that even walking was difficult. I was offered medication, but I wanted a more holistic approach. 'I'd had acupuncture before and had always found it really effective so when I was offered it at The Christie, I went for it.' Acupuncture is not the only complementary therapy having a positive effect. A study presented to the American Society of Clinical Oncology last month found exercise reduced the risk of cancer patients dying within eight years by up to a third. Getting the blood pumping could also help to stop tumours returning within five years. The results of the landmark trial across the US, UK, Australia, France, Canada and Israel showed that exercise can be an effective complementary therapy. About 35 per cent of people with cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) alongside traditional treatment plans, according to Cancer Research UK. Several studies have found they reduce adverse symptoms both during and after conventional medical treatment. While Paige is treated at The Christie, Guy's and St Thomas' in London offers aromatherapy in cancer care, University College Hospitals in London offer aromatherapy, massage, reiki and reflexology, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital does reflexology, massage, reiki and the M Technique — a massage suitable for frail patients. Availability on the NHS is limited and dependent on postcode and treatment centres, and is often funded by charities. After giving birth to her daughter Sahara, now 14 months, in 2024, Paige found it difficult to get to acupuncture appointments so her nurse taught her to do it herself. 'I had acupuncture once a week and it really helped with the pain,' she says. 4 Kate said: 'Looking at it from a mind, body and spiritual perspective really matters' Credit: AFP 'I got my mobility back and I could walk properly again. 'At the end of last year, my therapist said she was planning to train some patients to do self-acupuncture so we could do it at home. Regain control 'I jumped at the chance, particularly as I had recently given birth and the juggle of childcare with my weekly appointments was difficult.' The Christie is one of Europe's largest experimental cancer medicine centres, with more than 3,000 patients and around 700 clinical studies taking place at any one time. It is also one of the first to offer self-training for acupuncture as a complementary therapy alongside traditional cancer treatments. Eileen Hackman, integrative therapy health and wellbeing lead who taught Paige how to do her own acupuncture, says: 'Research shows that acupuncture benefits cancer patients physically and psychologically. 'Patients describe it as life-changing as it enables them to regain some control. 'Many feel it makes their lives generally easier to cope with.' Putting needles in yourself might sound daunting but it's had such a huge impact Eileen Hackman Paige was taught how to safely insert and remove the needles in her hands and feet. She does it every few weeks and says: 'When Eileen did the acupuncture, it looked easy, but having tried it myself, it can be fiddly. 'I get frustrated if I place them incorrectly and they slip out. The difference is big though — it relieves the pain I'm in by around 60 per cent, which means I can walk and use my hands a lot more comfortably. 'My hands are sometimes so bad I can't pick things up so it makes a huge difference, especially with how much I need to do as a stay-at-home mum. 'Putting needles in yourself might sound daunting but it's had such a huge impact.' Paige, who is now cancer-free, adds: 'Being able to take ownership of my health in this way has been incredible. I hope, in time, the pain will lessen more.' 4 Paige during treatment Credit: Jam Press/Paige Nunu Some complementary therapies may be harmful or interact with other treatments, and Caroline Geraghty, specialist information nurse at Cancer Research UK, says: 'It may be OK to use some complementary treatments along-side treatment prescribed by your doctor. However, the influence of things you see online can be misleading. 'It's important to speak with your cancer doctor, GP or specialist nurse if you're considering using any complementary therapies, as some may affect the way your treatment works." Major medical breakthroughs HERE are some of the big cancer treatment breakthroughs of the last decade. BLOOD TESTING: Super sensitive blood tests can now detect fragments of tumour DNA coming from anywhere in the body with a simple blood sample. Scientists can use the results to confirm or rule out a cancer diagnosis. IMMUNOTHERAPY: Harnessing a patient's own immune system to fight cancer is on the rise as it is more accurate and less toxic than chemotherapy. Drugs can switch off tumour genes that cancer cells use to resist white blood cells. VACCINES: Cancer vaccines are an extension of immunotherapy and work similarly to jabs for bugs like Covid or measles, but mostly treat instead of prevent. Scientists grow or create cells that look like cancer in a lab, then inject them into the body to train the immune system to kill them. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: AI is being used to improve cancer detection as it can harvest and analyse data faster than a human. ROBOTIC SURGERY: Surgical robots are used to treat cancer as they can reduce side effects and speed up recovery compared to traditional ops.
