Longford’s Little Blue Hero! ​Big day for Honorary Garda Rebecca Reid

There were celebrations in Moydow recently as a local teenager was made an Honorary Garda at the Little Blue Hero Awards.

Receiving the honour at a special event in Templemore Garda College, ​Rebecca Reid was recognised for her courage and resilience in living with severe epileptic seizures which she has experienced almost daily since the age of five.

The condition is known as Lennox Gastaut Syndrome which is widely regarded as one of the most resistant to treatment.

Rebecca was among a number of inspirational children and teenagers recognised through the Little Blue Hero honours, which celebrate young people living with serious medical conditions.

The St Mel’s student first learned she had been nominated for an award shortly before undergoing major brain surgery last December.

Her nomination was submitted by Longford Sergeant James Rowan and supported by Sergeant Emer Farrell.

Despite living with a serious condition, Rebecca works alongside her younger sister Emma to raise awareness about seizure first aid.

They are currently encouraging people to join Rebecca’s Road Runners, a fundraising initiative organised as part of Epilepsy Ireland September Walking Challenge.

Such is the impact of their work, that Epilepsy Ireland last year named the Moydow sisters as the recipients of their annual Volunteer of the Year Award.

Joining Rebecca in Templemore to receive her latest distinction of being made an honorary Garda was sister Emma, mum Gráinne and Gráinne’s partner, Patrick Duffy.

Speaking to the Longford Leader recently, Gráine reflected on the significance of the occasion for Rebecca and her family.

“The Little Blue Heroes Honorary Garda graduation in Templemore was absolutely amazing. It was such a special day for Rebecca and indeed for our whole family. Seeing Rebecca graduate as an honorary Garda with the Little Blue Heroes was an incredibly proud and emotional moment for us after such a challenging almost 11 years for Rebecca battling with refractory epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.”

Gráinne also praised the Gardaí for the effort they went to in making the day special for the award recipients.

She added, “In particular, since Christmas having undergone such a huge brain surgery and VNS implant, it was just such a special day, a beautiful, beautiful day.”

“The kindness, the care, the effort that went into making the day so memorable…it was incredible.”

“The Gardaí and Little Heroes, I've been to many youth events both personally and professionally and it was just so well organised and all the young people were just made to feel so welcome.”

She added, “The families were made feel so welcome and so special from the Garda band marching, the parade, the certificates, the teddy bear van where you made your own teddy bear and dressed them in little Garda uniforms to their own little Garda buddy that stayed with the honorary Garda all day, to the guards of honour all which name Rebecca and congratulate her.”

Gráinne continued, “Rebecca was just made to feel so special from the moment she got out of the car. It's an experience that we will treasure forever.”

“We’re hugely grateful to the local Gardaí who put Rebecca forward, and to the Little Blue Heroes and all in an Garda Síochána for giving Rebecca and us, her family, such a wonderful, beautiful memory of that day.”

“We are also grateful for all the support we've received since she's become an honorary Garda and we look forward to this new venture for Rebecca.”