This is the tragic Irish gran who became Ireland's third victim of the coronavirus, as her daughter revealed the heartache of her final moments.
Eileen O’Neill, 88, passed away on Wednesday after bravely battling the deadly virus at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.
And as they struggled to cope with not being able to give her a proper funeral, her family warned the nation: "Anyone can contract it."
Heartbroken Siobhan Cullen said: “Having spent her final hours with her, seeing her fighting to breathe for hours and what we as a family have experienced, I don’t wish anyone else to go through this.”
Grandmother-of-five Eileen, who was from Loughlinstown in Dublin, suffered a stroke in April last year and also had respiratory problems.
Siobhan added: “She never complained and feared the thought of returning to hospital.
“So as her primary carer and being very much on top of all her meds, etc, I watched her like a hawk.
"Apart from being tired which she often was, I had no concerns.
“On Friday she slipped at lunchtime and her carer phoned Paramedic Lift Assist as mum was unable to get up and carers were not allowed help, even though she was a tiny thing.
“He came and stayed around for a while. Shortly after he left she said she felt quite weak, her speech became slurred and she slumped to one side in the chair. The ambulance was called.
“She’d a very high temperature but she could also have been having another stroke so they persuaded her to go in an ambulance so a suspected stroke could be treated.
"As soon as she arrived in A&E she was isolated and tested for the virus.”
Once she tested positive, Eileen had to be kept away from the rest of the family.
A heartbroken Siobhan said her own mother didn’t recognise her after she visited her in hospital in a full Hazmat suit and mask.
“She was in total isolation fully with it to the end with what looked to her, like people in space suits coming in and out.
“Even when I got in she didn’t recognise me with my hair completely covered, masked, goggles, and face shield. God help her. So frightening.”
Siobhan has urged people to take the international pandemic seriously as her entire family has been in self-isolation since Monday.
She said: “Please, please please listen to mum’s story and go overboard on protecting yourselves.
"If mum, who hadn’t left the house since mid February and was only in contact with six people - all symptom free, got it, anyone could.
“I want to publicly thank all the staff in Vincent’s who looked after her and if people would please, if they want to do anything, make donations to Feed the Heroes.”
The Department of Health confirmed the third death on Thursday night - but in line with protocol, did not name Mrs O’Neill.
The first fatality in the North now brings the death toll on the island to four.
In addition, there are now 683 confirmed cases in the Republic.
The average age of people getting the killer bug is 43, “a youngish profile” according to the Department of Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan.
