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Brian Domi
From the close-knit community of Ballymote in Co. Sligo, the story of Brian Domi Mallon, a 30-year-old whose life took an unexpected turn.
Despite his challenges, his spirit remains unbroken, shining as a beacon of hope and resilience.
A bit of background to this remarkable, warm, and kind young man
Brian grew up in Crozon, Sligo, with his parents, Brenda and Gerard and sister, Louise, with their close-knit extended family living nearby. As a child, he enjoyed playing with Lego and “The Sims” and dreamed of being an architect. He also was fascinated with local history and would enjoy speaking to older people and hearing their stories. He has a passion for politics and social justice, inspired by his grandfather and uncle. A year abroad in Barcelona during his Erasmus year ignited a love affair with the city, prompting Brian to make it home for much of his twenties. He completed his masters in sociology in 2022 and was due to begin teaching it to young people in 2023.
On March 3, 2023, in an instant, tragedy struck
As Brian missed a step descending the stairs of Sagrada Familia Metro Station in Barcelona on his way home from work. Brian was initially in a coma for 2 weeks after suffering a brain bleed from the impact of the fall but began making an almost miraculous recovery after waking – he quickly began regaining movement and speech and his doctors were astounded. However, during Easter week, he developed an infection at the site of his craniotomy which quickly spread through Brian’s entire brain. Despite surgery to attempt removal of the infection he suffered a further bleed and went back into a coma. This time recovery hasn’t been so easy.
Brian has undergone 11 surgeries in all – addressing issues such as the bleeds, infection, craniotomy, cranioplasty, multiple brain shunts, tracheostomy, and PEG feeding tube. He was left with challenges such as an inability to talk and communicate, complete paralysis on his right side, and partial paralysis on his left side.
Brian spent 3 months on life support, and almost 5 months in ICU
Followed by 5 months in a specialist rehabilitation hospital in Barcelona before returning by air ambulance to Sligo University Hospital just before the turn of the new year. He moved to the Benbulben Rehabilitation unit at St. John’s Hospital, Sligo at the end of January where he is currently receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapy. His family and partner Cris have been with him every step of the way and are by his side supporting Brian through this massive life change.
However, there is hope
Brian began to breathe fully for himself in September
He began to eat in October, and finally started to say some words in November – for now mostly just hello and yes. He is beginning to regain movement and mobility very slowly. His spirit is very much there, and he laughs and smiles a lot as well as singing along to his favourite music. However, he still requires 24/7 total care and will for the foreseeable future. He also needs to learn to speak again, as he is unable to produce speech independently. We hope to be able to find help to teach Brian to speak using the right side of his brain – the part that retains the lyrics of his favourite songs.
We are reaching out to you, our community, with a plea for support
Brian’s participation in rehabilitation has been stunted due to medical issues, the severity of his brain injury, medication side effects and his difficulty in communicating. Routine tasks are exhausting, requiring a tremendous amount of energy. For these reasons, progress has been slow and his time in specialist rehab came to an end far too quickly – just when he had started to make real progress. The potential of Brian’s recovery massively depends on continuing to provide the best possible care and rehabilitation.We need your kind support to make a difference in Brian’s journey to recovery. Your support will help significantly giving Brian the possibility to continue with specialised rehabilitation, to make modifications to the family home, provide accessible transport and aid with medical expenses.
Regardless of size, every donation is a meaningful step toward Brian regaining independence and rebuilding his life. In these challenging times, your support is a source of comfort and strength for our family. Every cent received will go directly into the Brian Domi trust fund and will be used exclusively for Brians rehabilitation and needs. Thank you for being part of Brian’s support network. Your kindness is making a significant impact. We appreciate it more than words can express.
Your contribution plays a vital role
Brian Domi Mallon
Support Trust
Our Mission
Our fundraising committee’s mission is to provide the highest quality of life for Brian Domi Mallon as he navigates current and future challenges following his life altering injury. We are aiming to supply necessary financial support and resources required to provide the best possible rehabilitation and care.
Together, we are on a mission to make a tangible difference in Brain Domi’s life, embodying the strength of community and the “transformative power of collective kindness.”
Committee Members
Niall Davey
Chairperson and Trustee
Pat McGrath
Vice Chairperson and Trustee
Michael Kenny
Treasurer
Pauline Lavelle
Trustee
Bernie Conboy
Assistant Treasurer and Trustee
Gerard Mallon
Member
Direct payments to the Support Trust Bank Account
| Account Name | BRIAN DOMI MALLON SUPPORT TRUST |
|---|---|
| Bank | Bank of Ireland, Sligo, Ireland |
| IBAN | IE69 BOFI 905440 17671628 |
| BIC | BOFIIE2DXXX |