“Songs I like to Sing” by Mike Joe Fitzgerald

As a young person living in Lispole, Co Kerry, while attending national school Mike Joe loved singing. An early ambition was to sing with and lead a band. Over the years he continued singing and always in the back of his mind was his dream and lifetime ambition to make a CD.

In 2020 Mike Joe decided it’s ‘Now or Never’ and so he chose the year of Covid-19 to produce his CD and thankfully, with the support and encouragement of his team, he achieved his dream. Delighted to have completed the recording of 15 of his favourite songs, Mike Joe now wants to use his music and CD to help two charities.

JP O’Sullivan, ‘a rogue and gentleman’, from Lispole, a special and lifetime friend of Mike Joe, who he says ‘‘never does what he is told’, as a result, he wants to share the proceeds of his CD to support his chosen charities;

Firstly – ILFA, due to their great work and support as a patient organisation for those living with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
JP has shown great dedication to ILFA for the help and support they gave him and other patients and
families with pulmonary fibrosis. Mike Joe has travelled JP’s journey with him.

Secondly – the Kerry Cancer Support Group for the great work they do in Kerry for cancer patients and because Mike Joe is a Kerryman after all.

Congratulations to Mike Joe on achieving his ambition and warmest thanks to Mike Joe and his pal JP O’Sullivan for fundraising for ILFA and supporting our work. To order your CD or to make a donation, please contact ILFA on 086 871 5264 or JP O’Sullivan on 087 280 9801

The second virtual Patient Information of 2020 took place on 28th November via Zoom.

We are very grateful to our speakers Dr Michael Henry, Respiratory Consultant at Cork University Hospital, Carmel McInerney, Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Ennis Hospital, Debbie Gibbons, Palliative Care Physiotherapist at St Francis Hospice, and Sandra Murphy, Dietitian at the Mater Misericoridae University Hospital in Dublin, and Laura Grehan and Gerry Redican who achieved great fundraising success for ILFA in 2020.

ILFA’s next Let’s Talk online support group meeting will take place on Tuesday 8th December at 2pm via Zoom.

Our invited guest speaker is Advanced Nurse Practitioner Lynn Fox, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital.

Register in advance by emailing info@ilfa.ie or calling 086 871 5264

In April-May, ILFA conducted a research survey on the impact of COVID-19 on patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. We had a great response with over 200 people sharing their experiences with us. The survey results have been incorporated into infographics and are shared here.

Thanks to Danny Sheahan, lead researcher with Invisio Ltd. for his help with conducting the survey and analysing the results. Sincere thanks also to Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche Products Ireland and the European IPF & Related Diseases Federation (EU-IPFF) for supporting this valuable research.

Summary data

Summary Infographic

Patient results

Patients infographic

Caregiver results

Caregiver Infographic

Healthcare professional results

Healthcare professional infographic