Brave Colm Eogan comes home to say 'Thank You'

NOELLE FINEGAN
There was an incredible turnout on Sunday for a truck run in aid of Colm Eogan with more than 120 trucks taking part but the highlight of the day was undoubtedly that Colm himself was able to attend.
It was the Nobber native's first time out of hospital since the horror collision on the M3 motorway on 12th July where Colm suffered life changing injuries when he was struck by a truck while performing his duties as a tow-truck operator.
His fiancee Jacinta said they were both overwhelmed by the turn out on Sunday and it was a huge boost to Colm to see so many people come to support him. 
“It was his first time out of hospital. It was unreal-we couldn't get over the amount of support. 

Pics: John Fox & Ronan O'Sullivan 

It’s onwards and upwards now. It was a good boost for Colm. He went back to the hospital that night and couldn't sleep thinking of all the people he had spoken to. There were guys who he never met who came from the other side of the country to support him,” said Jacinta.

After several operations and more than three months in Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, it was a huge milestone for Colm to be allowed out of hospital to attend along with his Jacinta and his children Noah (5) and Skye (2).  Colm was at the M3 Park and ride for the start of the run and went on to Castletown to watch the truck run pass through. He was also at St Michael's GFC in Carlanstown where the run finished and spoke to lots of friends and neighbours who came to wish him well.

“Colm was very emotional but very happy. He couldn't believe the turn out for him and all the people who came out for him, “ said Jacinta.
It has been an incredibly difficult few months for Colm and his family and Jacinta said it was the support of their families and friends who got them through it. “I don't know what we would do without them,” she said.

Jacinta has also thanked everyone involved in Sunday's fundraiser and also the other fundraisers for Colm including her brother Jason who organised the recent golf classic, the Byrne family who held a race night, Dudley Farrell for the Quiz night in Dee Local, Carlanstown National School where Noah is a pupil for the cake sale, O'Carolan College Nobber where Colm's niece is a student for holding a cake sale and Nobber Vintage Club which is holding a tractor run this Sunday, 5th November leaving from the village at 12 noon (Registration from 11am).
Colm still has a long road to go and will require many months of rehabilitation after having his left knee amputated above the knee and his right leg amputated below the knee. 
He also had surgery on his arm last week.
Jacinta explained that he has an appointment in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire on Thursday to be assessed and they will know more after that. At the moment, his arms are holding him back but it is hoped he can soon transfer to Dun Laoghaire.
Jacinta said they are working towards getting Colm home for five days over Christmas but will need some works done to their home first. They have applied for a grant from the council towards the works and are waiting for them to come out. These works will need to be done before Colm can come home for visits.
A native of Nobber and now living in Carlanstown, Colm has worked with J&S Motors,  since 2009 and it was his colleagues there who organised Sunday's successful truck run. Shane Sullivan of J&S Motors said it “really made the day” to have Colm there.
“It was fantastic to get Colm out. It really made the day. He only had an operation last Monday on his arm so it was touch and go if he would make it but the hospital was happy to release him for the day,” said Shane. The truck run began at the M3 Park and Ride in Dunboyne and passed through Dunshaughlin, went back on the motorway, and then came through Navan, then on to Castletown, Drumconrath, Nobber and back to Carlanstown.
An incredible 156 vehicles registred- 126 trucks and 30 other vehicles including vintage cars.

A gofund me page was set up in conjunction with the truck run with a €25,000 target and Shane said they were confident they would reach that and the final figure would be somewhere between €25,000 and €30,000. The gofund me page will be open until next weekend so there is still time to make a donation and the final figure will be totted up at that stage. See www.gofundme.com page.