Inspiring Longford mother of assault victim in major fundraising drive for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland

The mother of a young south Longford man left with a brain injury following a one punch assault over a year ago says she is hoping to “leave the pain” of almost losing her son behind by embarking on a gruelling fundraising campaign.

Phyllis Baker is taking on the Dublin City Marathon in October with a view to raising vital funds for Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (ABI).

The Ballymahon mother of two made the decision to launch her 'One Step at a Time' quest last November in the hope of raising in the region of €10,000.

That decision came after her eldest child, Zac Martin, fell foul to what Circuit Court Judge Keenan Johnson described as a “horrific” assault in the south Longford town 12 months earlier.

His attacker Sean McCormack, Rath Reagh, Smithfield, Legan, Longford, pleaded guilty to a Section 4 assault which left Zac fighting for his life in hospital.

“I had got a text from Zac to say he was on his way home and then one of his friends rang his dad's phone to say he had fallen and an ambulance was coming,” said Phyllis.

It was a cruel and devastating call for Phyllis and her husband Paul Martin to receive and came during a Covid enforced period just a short time after Phyllis had lost her own father to a brain tumour.

Money will not undo harm of horrific injury and experience suffered by Longford one punch assault victim

In his own victim impact statement delivered last October, Zac revealed how he had been forced to undergo three brain surgeries in just five weeks as a result of an “ unprovoked, unexpected and cowardly assault for entertainment”.

He said: “When Sean McCormack assaulted me I didn’t even have a chance to defend myself,” adding how his aggressor attempted a “celebratory dance” while he lay prostrate on the ground."

He also revealed how the attack had left him having to take a cocktail of prescribed medication on a daily basis as his own sense of worth and anxiety plummeted.

“People tell me how lucky I am. I am lucky that the ambulance was called after my head hit the road. I am lucky that the staff in Mullingar Hospital transferred me to Beaumont Hospital so well.

“I am lucky that my Neurosurgeon, Catherine Moran, and her team in Beaumont Hospital had the skills to save my life.

“But I was anything but lucky on November 13, 2021 when Sean McCormack assaulted me. I think Sean McCormack has been lucky, lucky he didn’t kill me and lucky that I fought for my life.

“I would go through what I have gone through a hundred times rather than put another human being through this nightmare.”

Longford man 'needed three brain surgeries' following 'cowardly assault for entertainment'

In a remarkable show of human strength and fortitude, both mother and son completed a five kilometre run in Roscommon just over two weeks ago.

And while her son continues to make noticeable progress in his continued and ongoing rehabilitation, for Phyllis, the chance to raise awareness and give something back to an organsation that has helped her son and family beyond measure is simply too hard to turn down.

“The whole area of rehabilitation is very public and there are very few private facilities that offer the kinds of support ABI do,” said Phyllis.

By her own acceptance, going public on such an issue and launching a broader appeal through online fundraising portals like gofundme is worlds apart from what she is ordinarily accustomed to.

“I live a very quiet life and while doing something like this is way out of my comfort zone, it is very important to me,” added Phyllis.

Before thoughts even turn to October, a number of other fundraisers have been lined up to aid Phyllis in her awareness drive.

Local couple Darren and Caroline Mulledy are undertaking a 130km trek along the Royal Canal on July 1 while Darren and Mike Egan have a Honda 50 run lined up for July 16.

Throw in Phyllis' own plans to abseil down the Old Jameson Distillery in Smithfield, Co Dublin and it's not hard to see how determined she is to make a difference both for her family and an organisation that couldn't be any closer to her heart.

“I am just trying to do what I can and to show my son that by facing your fears, life will in time reward effort.”

Words of wisdom they may be, they are ones this tireless and inspiring mother has every intention of fulfilling.

*To donate to Phyllis Baker's 'One Step at a Time' campaign, simply follow the link: https://www.go fundme.com/f/phyllis- baker-one-step-at-a-time