To All Survivors!!!!!!

[Barbie]

TO ALL SURVIVORS,

As Minister Jan O’Sullivan is new to her job, would it be at all possible that we could band together and ask the Minister to meet with a group of survivors so that we can voice our ISSUES with the Caranua program. As Caranua was developed for the survivors and because most if not all are already entitled to these services offered either by age, medical card or through social circumstance the Caranua program IS NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. Minister Quinn, did say he would review the program in 2015, the new Minister needs to review it with URGENCY NOW! We need to have an account from the Minister as to what is happening to our SURVIVORS MONEY AND BECASUE ITS OUR MONEY WE NEED TO BE KEPT INFORMAED OF SPENDING. We would like to know from Minister Jan O’Sullivan about the interest on the 110 Million and where it is being banked, also where the rental income from properties given to survivors by the religious is being banked on our behalf , and what is happening to the original 110 Million.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

[jack colleton]

Robert I Guess That About Sums It Up!   The Media And Press Ask No Questions And Get No Answers?!

[Elizabeth Nicholas]

Hello Rob,   why wont this CEO speak to us what is she hiding.   There seems to be a considerable amount of our money tied up with caranua but how many people have benefited  from it.   I am asking for financial help, but no one is listening to me, am I the only one that needs this kind of help. We need to arrange a meeting with survivors and try to get a meeting with a minister.   So come on girls and boys dont let us be beaten by burocrisy let us tell these caranua people exactly what we need and want.  not what they tell us we can apply for.  Surely when we were in those hell holes, we were told what to do and when to do it,  that no longer applies to us now.The money in that fund is ours and if we do not stand together it will go down the pan . 

[robert]

Barbra thank you for following up on my questions to the Dail Eirann with Clare Daly WOW you said it too. I was amazed to see how many views you got well done so very well done Regards Robert

[Barbie]

Thank you! I am trying my hardest to get answers for us - I will be making it my business to peruse answers for us all,  in the up coming General Election when all these politicians want a job in Government!!! Keep up the fight! Regards, Barbara

[Barbie]

Hi All, it is my belief that very few are benefiting from the Caranua fund, its seem to me that the only people actually benefiting from our fund are the people employed to administer the fund. It is shocking to think after all we have gone through we are still treated like second class citizens by this and the last Government. When the politicians start calling to my door in the coming year looking for votes, I am going to petition everyone of them to have Caranua account for our money. Regards, Barbara

[jack colleton]

Everybody Surely Would Agree Barbara!

[Elizabeth Dormer]

I most certainly agree that this should be an issue for your next voting campaigners x x

[Barbie]

Hi All, I sent an email to Ms. Mary Lou McDonald TD Deputy Leader of Sinn Féin, I received an email back looking for my phone number so they may contact me in regards to Caranua. I am willing to talk to her office about same, if you have any thing you would like me to say please let me know thorough here. Thank you, Barbara

[Elizabeth Dormer]

Hi Barbara,

I am the surviving child of an Irish institutional Survivor. I took my case to the redress board and won in 2012.

My mental health has been with me for as long as I can remember and so a catalogue of illnesses have hit along the way. I have Borderline personality Disorder, PTSD, Anorexia, Anxiety/panic attacks and other stuff. 

My health is bad. My GP, Dentist and hospital are aware of my frail situation even though I'm only 49. I suffered 3 internal bleeds due to starvation and have a hiatus hernia. 

My teeth have just been assessed today and I need extensive work on them. I cannot afford to pay or if I do pay, I can't afford to eat. I can't eat properly anyway.

The hospital have told me that if I don't start eating, I could suffer another internal bleed and it could be fatal. I wrote the following letter to Caranua.....

Hello,

I really need some help with my physical health. I know you stated I couldn't have money because it was my mother in an institution but my health is in decline and I could become fatally ill through this.

My teeth rotted at the age of 21 due to an eating disorder. Throughout my life I have suffered a mountain of problems including, anorexia, post traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, suicide ideation, self harm and high anxiety whereby if I have an anxiety/panic attack, I lose touch with reality.

My top front 8 teeth have now rotted to the point whereby I cannot eat because I have no back teeth. I broke a tooth the other day on a chocolate bar.  

I'm trying all avenues in order to try and get some dental treatment which is going to cost me around £10,000 or less because if I am unable to eat, I'll simply die. 

I take daily tablets, (Buccastem) to try and prevent actual vomiting and have suffered three internal bleeds because of anorexia.The hospital say that if I don't change things I will die.  I take a vitamin B Compound daily, other vitamin B tablets four times a day and have a vitamin B12 injection every 12 weeks.

My mental health issues are because of the way the institutions treated my mother. I am not entitled to free treatment but at the same time, I can't afford any of the treatment.

I'm only 49 years old and I'm asking you to reconsider allowing me to have funding for my teeth. I am married with 3 children all in their late teens and early 20's. My children are worried about losing their mum and my husband thinks he will lose his wife too.

I am desperate to begin rebuilding my life but not with rotten front teeth.

Kind Regards,

Elizabeth Dormer. 

I got this reply....

Dear Elizabeth,

 

Thank you for your email and for reaching out to us.

 

It is not up to the staff and Board of Caranua who is eligible for support from Caranua. There is a Law we come under which sets out who Caranua can work with. Unless the Government change this Law; the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 Caranua’s hands are tied in terms of who we can work with.

 

I can see from what you have said that you are dealing with a number issues. I do not know if you are currently in touch with any mental health practitioner and while Caranua cannot provide you with support in this there are two services that I know of which may be able to do so. They are Towards Healing http://www.towardshealing.ie  who provide some counselling for family member of Survivors of Residential Institutions, and the other is called ICAP who provide both counselling psychotherapy http://www.icap.org.uk/

 

 

I note from your email that you feel you could become fatally ill, Elizabeth, if you are feeling this unwell I would encourage you to attend your local A& E or GP to seek treatment.

 

Kind regards,

Julie Anne

 

Julie Anne Dunne

Administrative Assistant

Please will you ask them to reconsider families too, we went through a lot in our lives and so far my own free life hasn't started yet.

Thank you Barbara x

[Elizabeth Nicholas]

Hi Barbara,   lets hope someone in her office gets back to you, but I'm sure you would prefer if it was Mary Lou MCDonald herself.    I have been badgering her office and the minister's office for some time now about getting the legislation changed for caranua but continually been fobbed of,   I have been asking for financial help but to no avail,  I did see on the Shame of Ireland website that another lady was asking for the same thing,  why cant they give us what is ours,  I wont go cap in hand begging for help,  If the CEO can have a salary of 80.000 euros why cant we have our share of what is ours, that money is not theirs to squander.   I wish I could be there when you eventually have a meeting with someone,  good luck anyway.   Liz Nicholas

[Elizabeth Dormer]

Hi, that is what they want. They want us begging and pleading and if anybody get's any money like that then the psychology is reversed and the person in receipt of the money is then grateful for everything that Caranua has done for them.

They are truly sadistic people who want us all to grovel to them. I wil not beg for money that is rightfully there for everybody.

[jack colleton]

Hello Barbara!  I emailed Ms Mary Lou Mc Donald TD and i received no reply!  Makes me cautious about her and opening up to strangers .....