THE FAMILY of a woman who died after giving birth to twins at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, are setting up a foundation in her memory which will buy vital equipment for two hospital baby units, including the one which failed her.
Tania McCabe died in March 2007 and one of her twin boys, Zach, also died. The Health Service Executive later admitted negligence after a series of blunders in her care were identified by an independent review group.
The Tania McCabe Foundation is being established to honour the memory of the 34-year-old mother and Garda sergeant from Termonfeckin, Co Louth, in a positive way.
Her father-in-law and chairman of the foundation, Philip McCabe, said yesterday it will raise money to buy equipment for the neonatal units at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, which cared for Tania’s surviving twin Adam when he was born three months premature and weighing just over 2lb. Adam is now aged four and “has a big head of blonde curls”, according to his grandad.
He said the two hospitals had been asked to identify what specialised equipment they required.
The first major fundraiser takes place in August, when more than 100 people will participate in a 67km adventure race in the west. Each participant will raise €500, generating at least €50,000 for the fund. The foundation will be launched in Dublin today by its patron Miriam O’Callaghan.