Emma Dennis, Dublin I was diagnosed with a brain AVM in May 2008. I was told I had a ticking time bomb in my head and that it could blow at any time.

Emma Dennis, DublinI was diagnosed with a brain AVM in May 2008. I was told I had a ticking time bomb in my head and that it could blow at any time. I underwent surgeries in Beaumont underProf Bolger and Dr John Thornton.

Since then I've travelled the world,lived in Australia and played soccer for Shelbourne FC. I'm currently a primary teacher and have 34 eleven year olds in my class!

I thank God everyday for being so lucky and for the excellent Neurosurgeons in Beaumont! Prof Bolger and Dr Thornton - you guys are great doctors but more importantly even BETTER people - keep up the excellent work!

Evelyn Harvey, Donegal In July 2012, I was sent from Sligo Hospital to Beaumont to have two discs replaced in my neck. The pain was excruciating. I honestly thought I would never walk or give my son a hug again. Thanks to Mr Donncha O'Brien, my operation was a success.

Within a year, I was back working as a tour guide and took on numerous courses which I would never have thought of doing before. I gave up smoking and learned that my health was my wealth and to take each day as a blessing. I will always be eternally grateful to Mr O'Brien, and all the staff. It was hard enough going through my operation, but to do it so far away from home made it harder. With the help from the staff, I never felt alone and the after care was second to none. I cannot express how much thanks I share with everyone at Beaumont Hospital, particularly Mr. O'Brien, for everything they have done for me, for giving me back my life.

Suzanne RyanHi, I am a patient of Mr Rawluk. In 2011, I underwent a craniotomy to remove my Acoustic Neuroma. I also had radiation in January of 2012.

In September of 2012, I enrolled on the course I had always wanted. I trained to be a Healthcare Assistant & in 2013 I achieved this.

I am being monitored with MRI scans but I will be forever grateful to Beaumont neurosurgery.

Sophie Pierce, KildareI am a patient of Mr McNally andunderwent brain surgery to remove my grade 2 astrocytoma.

I have since graduated university with an honours chemistry degree, found my dream job and started driving again!

I am being monitored for now with MRI's but Beaumont neurosurgery has made it possible for me to live again and I will be forever grateful.

Rose Dooley, LaoisI am a patient of Mr Danny Rawluk. I was diagnosed with a meningioma tumour four years ago.

This tumour was leaning on my optic nerve and as a result the vision in my left eye had deteriorated drastically prior to surgery.

Since my neurosurgery in Beaumont Hospital in Oct 2011 my vision has improved greatly. I now have 90% vision in my left eye. I am so so grateful to Mr Rawluk ,his team and all the staff of Beaumont Neurosurgery Dept .

Niamh Delaney, Laois When I was 11, I underwent surgery to remove a tumour from behind my eye which left me visually impaired. Although this was a huge change in my life I managed to continue my hobbies and studies.

I have All Ireland titles in Irish dancing and am currently studying maths in Dublin Institute of Technology. I try not to let my sight get in the way of my goals in life. I always wanted to take part in the Women’s Mini Marathon and in 2014 I got the chance to do so. This was an amazing experience and a great achievement for me.

I would like to thank the staff of St. Raphael’s Ward and Beaumont Hospital for making me feel like a part of their one “big Beaumont family”. I owe a huge THANK YOU to Mr. Allcut and his team for all their help in my recovery. You people are the reasons why I have a smile on my face every day.

Leon McCarthy, Cork Leon was diagnosed with a brain tumour on the 11th of July 2014. We rushed from Cork and arrived to Beaumont at 1 am on a Friday night.

We were met by two of the most wonderful nurses and so our journey began. Leon was under the care of Mr John Caird and all the wonderful nurses, care assistants and catering staff on St Raphaels ward. They made what was the worst few weeks of our lives some bit bearable. Following surgery Leon had a left side paralysis so couldn't walk .

Thankfully he's back on his feet using a crutch but his physio said he doesn't need that anymore now which is great. His left hand is making progress he has been seen by an upper limb specialist in Enable Ireland. Leon is back to school five days a week and doing great cognitively and socially .

Caroline Bjoerk, Kildare As an Irish international event rider, I spent years incurring various injuries from the sport including a nasty rotational fall. I suffered through years of increasing pain before seeing Prof Ciaran Bolger who operated to repair my damaged discs.

The relief was unbelievable and I was advised to take up walking as part of my rehab. I walked from Clifden in Galway to Dublin to raise funds for spinal research but shortly after ended up in Beaumont Hospital in spasms as a result of stress and shock on the spinal cord.

However, my neck pain persisted and Prof Bolger carried out fusion surgery in December 2014. All my neurological problems are now gone completely and I am very grateful for my health and wellbeing.

I

Sarah McHugh, Longford

In July 2011, I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I underwent surgery in 2011 and again in 2012, followed by radiotherapy.

Due to the excellent work of my neurologist Mr Donncha O’Brien and St. Lukes, I have been able to get on with my life. Currently, I am teaching maths in Mullingar and have started to plan my trip to Australia this summer, a life long dream.

Grainne Markey, DublinIn August 2012, while preparing to go on holiday to Barcelona, I suffered a double brain aneurysm. I was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital and then transferred to Beaumont Hospital for surgery the following day.

The operation was a complete success but there remained fears that I could have a post - op stroke. I remained in Beaumont for three weeks and was hospitalised for a further two months. Thanks to the skill of the Neurosurgery team of Mr. Donncha O'Brien I made a full recovery.

Farida Kelly, DublinI underwent two brain surgeries to coil two brain aneurysms, on the left and right side of my brain. My neurologist was Mr Stephen Young, the care I received from Mr Young and his team was fantastic. I am forever grateful to all the team for their care, attention and support. Since I had my brain surgeries I am back in full time employment. I have completed a diploma in PR, digital marketing and social media. I train at the gym four times a week. I am fitter and healthier now than I have ever been. I was given a second chance at life thanks to Beaumont and now I’m living my life to the full every day.

Andrew Norris, EnglandIn 1995, I spent 3 days in the care of the neurological unit at Beaumont Hospital following the Ireland v England soccer international at Lansdowne Road. The match was abandoned when a riot broke out in which I received a severe head injury.

I was transferred back to England where I spent another 7 weeks in hospital, learning how to walk again , as my injury had resulted in the left side of my body being paralyzed. As a result of the initial excellent care at Beaumont I have made a full recovery.

I would like to thank all involved with my care, especially Sister Tobin.

Charlie White, LaoisIn Jan 2014, I was operated on by Mr Donncha O'Brien and Mr Peter Lacy to remove a growth on my pituitary gland.

The operation was very successful and I am in good health ever since, thank god. At the moment, I am being monitored every six months with MRI scans.

I am very grateful to Mr O' Brien, Mr Lacy and their team for their wonderful work and would also like to thank all the nurses and staff at Beaumont Hospital - keep up the good work.

Stephen Mulgrew, DublinOn the 20th May 2012, I suffered a subdural haemorrhage and was placed in an induced coma for many weeks. I spent 3 months in Beaumont undergoing 4 different brain surgeries with other complications like kidney failure.

It's now 2015, I'm 25 and I have been back at work full time for over 2 years now. I have completed numerous "Hell and Back" events and plan to compete in the Samsung 10k night run. I am playing football at a high level for amateur league of Ireland. I drive and plan to travel to Europe and the USA next year with my girlfriend. None of the above would be possible without the work of the neurology team. I tell anyone who asks about my injury that there is no such thing as luck or being lucky to survive. You are cared for by professionals inside the walls of Beaumont Hospital. Their skill and training have allowed me to live my life now like nothing ever happened. I will always be eternally grateful to Dr Young , Ruby and the team who worked on, cared for and brought me back to life following a horrific injury.

I got engaged while skiing in Feb 2014, got sick on May 5th and was diagnosed with a low grade brain tumour two weeks later.

I had my operation on the 21st of May 2014. I cannot sing enough praises of Dr David O’ Brien and his team. The support received from Eloise, Eithne and Sarah Clarke has been unbelievable for me. I have found the recovery tough going... but on March 1st I completed my first 5k and for the first time I felt alive again. Since then I've completed 2 more 5k runs and have got my time down on each run. I still have a bit to go but I’m getting there.

I am getting married on June 5th 2015 to the most amazing man.. One crazy year but thanks to everyone in Beaumont, I have so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward too.. I am very lucky

Jamie Jordan

I underwent spinal surgery to remove a benign tumour which was wrapped around my spinal cord which was slowly causing paralysis from the chest down starting with my left leg.

My surgeon, My David O’Brien, told me there was a 10% chance I would be made worse as a result of the operation. If I declined it, there was a 100% chance I would be paralysed, and sooner rather than later.

I am back running as a hobby and completed the 10K mini marathon in 51 minutes last year.

I really owe all the staff at Beaumont everything.

Siobhain Whyte, Wicklow

Aoife O’Brien, KildareI underwent my first spinal surgery at age twenty-five to correct a slipped disc. It seemed to work temporarily following which I spent many years in agony , unable to walk independently or to work.

I‘d already had five surgeries which hadn’t worked and was told that the only person who could help me was Prof Ciaran Bolger.

It took five surgeries to sort the problem but thank god he stuck with me and I had my final surgery in December 2012. I still live with a tolerable level of pain but I can walk and do everything in moderation.

I am still off work but have gone back to college and am in the final year of an honours business degree.

In 2011, I spent 3 months in Beaumont Hospital’s ICU after suffering severe head trauma, breaking my neck, back and two internal bleeds to the brain. Thanks to the phenomenal work of Mr David O’Brien and staff, I have made a full recovery.

I have completed a marathon, won a County Championship with my GAA club and set up my own logistics company. Before my accident I represented both my club and county at various levels and have now returned to light training. I know I may never play competitively again but I am blessed to be given a second chance at life. I have taken up cycling and am enjoying the challenge. I will be forever grateful to Mr O’Brien and all the staff at Beaumont hospital for the care they provided. It is truly a miracle.

Donal Carvill, Armagh

Following a seizure in my sleep, scans revealed a tumour and I was transferred to Beaumont and diagnosed with a grade 3 astrocytoma . I can't describe my thanks to Stephen McNally, the surgical and anaesthetic teams and Brona the SLT, who sat through a waking craniotomy with me. This has become an amazing talking point and one of the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life.

Beaumont became like a second home to me. And like everyone, I have never been happier than when it was time to move out!

While I've returned for scans and check-ups, I have been able to live my life as normal, returning to my day-job, planning my wedding and promoting and publishing the books I had written before and during my treatment. I'm working for the future now, a future that I am ever confident about seeing.

Ken Mooney, Dublin

Following severe headaches in 2009, I went to Roscommon Hospital . I was sent to Galway for an MRI scan where I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. I was transferred to Beaumont Hospital under the care of Mr Chris Pidgeon. I had two surgeries and the tumour was discovered to be benign.

I was lucky to only have spent four weeks in Beaumont Hospital and went on to complete a four year apprenticeship as an electrician. I worked in Australia for a year and spent several months in Barbados.

I am back home now working as an electrician and living a full and active life

James Brennan, Roscommon

In 2009, I slipped in the snow and banged my head off the neighbours door step. I suffered a bleed to the brain and was rushed to Beaumont Hospital from Connolly Hospital and was operated on that night. I was in an induced coma for several days afterwards and was treated by Mr Taufiq Sattar.

The experience changed my life and once I got back on my feet, I started training straight away. I’ve completed 5 marathons and an Iron Man triathlon. I rain twice a day and am a totally different person now as a result of the injury.

Lewis McCann, Dublin

Rosemary O’Mahony, Meath On July 17th, 2003 my life changed, I had a hemorrhagic stroke. It was tough to get back on track but with the help of my girls, family and friends, I did. My balance, which affects my eyesight, and short term memory has been affected but I cope!

In between all that my husband died and I thought my world had ended, but it didn't. I am both mother and father to my girls. I have travelled extensively, lost 4 1/2 stone which wasn't easy but maintaining it is another story! In December my oldest daughter got married and I gave her away. I gave the Father of Bride speech and believe it or not it was daunting but I am a survivor!

James Murtagh, Mayo In December 2010, I had the feeling that the top of my head was going to explode. On further investigation, it was discovered that I had a lesion of some sort on my brain. I was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

I had my first surgery in Beaumont Hospital under Donncha O’Brien in January 2011 to remove the tumour and was told to watch and wait.

I had a second surgery in Feb 2014 and am still receiving treatment. I am back running my business in Mayo and making the most of my life.