She/Her. Mum. Wife. Book Lover. Mature entry medical student-it’s never too late to follow your dream! Honorary
#wearedelivering
crew 💖 Opinions are my own.
6 years ago we were expecting a baby boy due in January. He didn’t get to stay & we said both hello & goodbye a lot sooner
#pregnancyloss
#miscarriage
#Jesse
.
This day last week we left hospital & took home a January baby-a healthy little boy 💙🌈
I know this is Twitter not Etsy but…look what I made!
What seems like a small amount is huge for me. I’ve struggled so much with
#breastfeeding
& have never managed to pump this much before. I would definitely cry over this milk!
#smallwin
Well that’s a bit wild.
It’s really cool to see this but also really hard to see the ‘dislikes’.
At the end of the day people know nothing about me, the challenges I have faced or how passionate I am about both being a mother & pursuing a medical career.
Was I embarrassed taking this photo? Yes.
Do I love it? Also, yes.
I know people are probably sick of looking at me outside RCSI but I’ve waited so long to do this that it is so special to me. I hope the novelty never ends!
#orientationweekdone
#medstudent
.
A dream bigger than I could ever have imagined…
1 Access course
4 years of applying to medicine
4 HPATs
Too many tears to count
2 personal statements
1 healthcare assistant course
1 interview
1 offer
1000000% worth it!
#matureentrymedicalstudent
#RCSI
#womeninmedicine
This is an amazing story of true grit & determination. Great choice by
@RCSI_Irl
to give one of the few mature entry undergrad posts to this powerhouse
@Rosemary_Murphy
.
My track record? I’ve completed a dip in legal studies, a dip in Montessori Teaching, a QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support Award (with 9 distinctions while preparing for HPAT).
Yes, I left school after junior cert but I worked from age 16.
Don’t make assumptions about me.
I never thought I’d be writing this thread but important to have these conversations. Bear with me-there is a point. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying I have struggled with certain issues surrounding
#8thref
& battled with my own views. I’ve only recently decided how to vote (1)
Having a Bellini to celebrate it being exactly a month until I start college. I still can’t believe that I get to say I’m going to be a medical student
#dreamcometrue
.
Seeing so many complaints about the delays after the M50 crash. I get it-people have places to go,it’s inconvenient. But at least they’ll all make it home tonight & that’s something to be grateful for. Not everyone is as lucky.
Easy to lose sight of the bigger picture sometimes.
This day 4 years ago, we buried Jesse in Glasnevin. Every day those little feet inspire me to go for what I want. If something scares me, no matter how badly it goes, I know it can never be as bad as the day I stood over that open grave. If I can survive that, I can do anything.
Thank you so much to the lovely lady who dropped this fab card into RCSI for me. The support means so much. There will always be people who will have something negative to say but I think they are outnumbered by the people who are cheering me on.
#medstudent
#grateful
#thankyou
.
Now that the gang have given him the seal of approval…
Introducing our newest little man Dion who arrived into the world on the 12th January 🌈💙
According to the 13 year old he has a great name & is going to be a brilliant footballer 😂
Warning-more baby spam to follow!
Today I got my offer. It was my 4th time applying to medicine.
@RCSI_Irl
..you have made my day, week, month, life…
Yes, it was me who did the work but it was the
#RCSI
admissions panel who opened the door & gave me the chance to pursue my dream. I’ll be forever grateful.
Today is Round A CAO offer day.
Congratulations to all who received a course offer 🎉
Often we see people’s success but not the failure, disappointment, persistence & determination it took to get there.
Because it’s nonsense that the 8th saves lives
Because I don’t like abortion but accept sometimes it’s a neccesary part of healthcare
Because none of our doctors should ever feel ashamed because they can’t help
Because I have daughters
#reasonstorepeal
And I forgot to add my UCD Access Course to the list of achievements-the course that helped me to matriculate for medicine so it’s kind of a big deal on my CV
#oops
#AccesstoSEAM
#UCDforAll
.
My track record? I’ve completed a dip in legal studies, a dip in Montessori Teaching, a QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support Award (with 9 distinctions while preparing for HPAT).
Yes, I left school after junior cert but I worked from age 16.
Don’t make assumptions about me.
As a pregnant woman who has experienced 3 pregnancy losses,I cannot put into words how upsetting I find recent ‘pro-life’ protests.
That time would be better spent campaigning for free contraception, better sex education,more support for families & timely access to medical care.
I know I put myself up for it but actually seeing people say I’m too old, that an LC student is more deserving of a place in medicine & that questions should be asked about whether someone with such a limited time to work is deserving of such a coveted place is really upsetting.
We should normalise complimenting people more. After the white coat ceremony, I was trying to get a photo outside RCSI and a girl came up to me & said ‘you’re so pretty’. It was so genuinely nice. I thought about it today & smiled
#womensupportingwomen
.
*Covid 19 vaccination and pregnancy*
I had my first dose of the vaccine yesterday.
I was a bit reluctant to come on a platform like Twitter & openly admit that I was hesitant & it wasn’t an easy decision for me. But maybe someone else will be able to relate to my experience.
What I’m getting at here is you can absolutely be anti-abortion & still be a yes vote. The 8th is about so much more than abortion.
I’m voting yes because I trust women to make the best decision for them whatever their circumstances may be (11)
We are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of the newest member of our family. Introducing Abrianna Lucy Belle born 14th October at 8.01pm weighing 2.98kg. She is just perfect-absolutely besotted with her 🥰
#wearedelivering
cuties!
I don’t believe the 8th saves lives. The reality is abortions happen & will continue to happen regardless of what way the vote goes. I actually think it’s offensive to claim their are children only here because of a piece of legislation (4)
Unfortunately many do have to think about it & other devastating circumstances like fatal foetal anomaly, pregnancy due to sexual violence etc
They need support to make those hard decisions here with the people they trust (10)
While most things are postponed at the moment, appointments for vaccinations are going ahead as normal. Abrianna had hers today. There’s no vaccine for
#covid19
yet but it’s important we continue to avail of the vaccines we are lucky enough to have access to.
#VaccinesWork
I’ve always considered myself anti-abortion/pro-life. I’m as sure as I can I’d never have an abortion. I’m entitled to my view and to make that decision-for myself. I don’t get to decide for the rest of the country. It’s none of my business what others do or why (3)
What if I found myself in the same situation as Louise Kenny’s patient with cancer-would I stick with my anti abortion view for myself & potentially leave 10 children with no mother? I can’t answer and am in tears even writing it as I never want to have to think about that (9)
Would you ask someone on the street where their income comes from? Absolutely not! So it’s also not ok to ask someone on the internet. I don’t owe anyone anything but I’m tired of people trying to say I never worked & we must have ‘other sources of income’ to have a big family!
I believe we need to untie our doctor’s hands & allow them to provide appropriate, compassionate care to their patients. I want my daughters to have bodily autonomy to make their own choices and to get the care they need & deserve here at home (12)
What a pleasure to talk to the fab
@olivercallan
this morning. I’m not necessarily a great public speaker when talking about myself as I get very nervous but representation matters-it’s important for people to see others from a similiar background pursuing what they want to do.
What a genuine pleasure to listen to
@Rosemary_Murphy
sharing her story with
@olivercallan
just now. Feel good radio and a perfect ambassador for educational access.
I didn’t have a straight forward experience this time & I will never be able to put into words how grateful I am for the amazing care we received
@RotundaHospital
. Above & beyond anything we could have asked for. Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough
#wearedelivering
.
Have to add I’m unsure if I’m allowed to call
@louiseckenny
Louise now 😂 Maybe something in the middle-Professor Louise?! 😂
For someone who said they’d never discuss the 8th on social media I’ve certainly commented enough over the last few days! ☺️
No such thing as being ‘too old’ to be a student. Ridiculous to discriminate against this lady on the basis of age despite being shown a valid student card. Mature students should be entitled to the same discount as their peers. Stop assuming that student always=a young person!
Such a special pic of Maeve with her namesake.
I could probably write a book about how amazing
@meogan
is. I owe so much to her. Proud to call my daughter after such a wonderful woman!
#TheRotunda
#wearedelivering
My subsequent pregnancies were not only wanted but planned. I don’t invite the rest of Ireland to my antenatal appointments because it’s private as health care should be but the reality is the 8th affects every pregnancy in Ireland. This needs to be discussed more (7)
Swapping soothers for stethoscopes..have to steal that great line from
@IrelandAMVMTV
!
How incredible is this
#mummymed
journey that I’m on?! Just wow!!!
Thank you so much to everyone who has shown an interest in my story. I am genuinely so grateful for all the support.
Great night meeting other RCSI mature students. So excited to start this amazing journey. Sometimes I still can’t believe that this is my reality now
#matureentrymedicalstudent
#maturestudentlife
.
@catherineanoone
@DonnellyStephen
They are entitled to their opinion but they have no place standing outside a GP surgery with their awful signs intimidating patients & staff. With no legislation in place (still!), I’d imagine there are GPs not opted into this service just to avoid attracting this lot.
If there was an option for abortion never to be neccessary, for it to be all happy, healthy mums and babies, no sexual violence and no complicated medical or life situations then I'd absolutely vote for that one. But there's not. So I'm
#TogetherForYes
!
#YesIsTheMiddleGround
Today we got to bring our beautiful baby girl home. I really can’t put into words how grateful I am for the amazing, personalised care & support we received from the team
@RotundaHospital
. Thank you will never be enough for everything they have done for us. Superstars!
Spending my ‘first day of med school eve’ admiring the most beautiful flowers that were delivered today along with the most gorgeous message. It means so much to know that there are people rooting for me as I embark on this journey
#totesemosh
#medstudent
#newchapter
#grateful
.
All I’ve ever wanted to be was a mum. I got pregnant at 19, I knew early on my relationship wasn’t going to work out but knew my baby was still wanted. If I could have went across the road & got an abortion I wouldn’t have because I didn’t want one (5)
I consider myself well informed-I’m capable of doing my own research & deciding what’s best for me & my baby.
Women & their doctors have to make difficult decisions every day-all women should have the right to make the best decision for their family (8)
Well there goes any chance of being able to lie about my age in the future 🤣 On a more serious note, thanks to the
@IrishTimes
& the incredible
@DeirdreFalveyIT
for their support. Who I am is irrelevant-the piece is about the hope that it’s never too late to follow your dream.
Now aged 40, with much life experience and 12 children, Rosemary Murphy is about to start studying medicine at the RCSI, Dublin. As a teenager, she realised her path into medicine “wouldn’t be a linear one, it would be quite bumpy”
@Eoin2BV
@meogan
@eLouSedator
@BavaroiseDeJour
@lynch_noirin
@Together4yes
I personally feel abortion would never be for me but I don’t think it’s any of my business what decisions others make. I haven’t been through what they have. I see the yes vote as being the middle ground which will allow women to access compassionate care here at home.
If ever there was a photo that was destined to become a meme, this is it!
He loves a bit of drama. Can’t imagine where he got that from!
So hard to believe that a week has already passed by since he arrived into the world.
#babyDion
How is this an actual headline in 2020?! The rapist portrayed sympathetically & the victim/survivor taken out of the picture-how is she? There needs to be a serious look at how sexual violence is reported in the media. We can do better than this. We have to.
I knew that by taking part in the recent debate I’d get some negative comments but to be told I’m not a real bereaved mother is a new low. I find it amazing how people can be so mean.
Thank you to all the lovely people who supported me & offered great advice 💕
#Together4Yes
I was a single mum for most of my pregnancy & for the first year or so of my daughter’s life. I was self conscious going to antenatal classes alone. What would people think of me with no partner? It was hard but I never regretted my choice-most women don’t (6)
And in case anyone was wondering how my ‘fake tan query’ worked out-it didn’t! I got distracted with something else & never got around to doing it so I rocked the pale look! As a wise Twitter pal said ‘you don’t need fake tan to feel good about yourself’
#graduation2023
.
What is this headline?! This is so offensive. And a lazy headless stock image too. Maybe I’m a bit emotional as in a matter of hours it’ll be a year since this ‘fat, short, old’ woman gave birth by c-section but this is hardly very patient centred or kind. Do better Irish Times!
Happy 7th birthday our darling Jesse 🦋
Those little feet changed my life.
Before you came, I worried colleges would laugh at me applying to medicine.
The day I stood over that open grave, I realised that even if they did it would never be worse than this final goodbye.
I had almost €500 worth of dental work done a few weeks ago & tonight my front tooth just broke beyond fixing. Broke as in the whole tooth is pretty much gone. My white coat ceremony is next Tuesday-love that for me. I know it’s just vanity & there are worse things but still…
I’ve seen some mixed reviews for the hot meals in schools programme but it has been a game changer here. My gang enjoy picking their meal from the app and my autistic boy who was previously eating very little at lunch time is now eating a substantial portion of the hot meal.
Ah lads! With all due respect, if it’s a society with no abortion you’re after then it’s not the 8th amendment you want-it’s a big sandpit to bury your head in! The 8th is not preventing abortion-it’s forcing women to travel, take pills unsupervised & have unsafe abortions!
@meogan
@RCSI_Irl
Aw thank you-I’m absolutely delighted 💕 It’s so surreal to see my name and ‘medical student’ in the same sentence! The fact that I got to interview stage and ultimately got an offer is a true testament to RCSI’s commitment to make medicine as diverse and inclusive as possible.
This little lady is a superstar!
In her first week of life we’ve had 4 trips to the paediatric outpatients department, 3 blood tests and we’re back again in 2 days time but all going in the right direction now.
I won’t lie though-the dreaded mama guilt is high this week.
Thank you for all the kind wishes on our baby news. It means a lot as big families don’t always attract positive comments. I’m over the moon (and tired, emotional and nervous!!) to be on this journey again. Baby Maeve will be the BEST big sister!
#dueinOctober
#Rotundababy
I’m a mum of 9, 21 weeks pregnant (today!) and I’ve lost 3
pregnancies. Of those 3 losses, I’ve had the privilege of meeting one-a beautiful baby boy. Jesse. Tiny but perfect 💙
I’m nervous putting this out there. I hope I don’t come across as a horrible person here-I’m not (2)
4 years ago, I remember studying chemistry notes on the labour ward waiting for things to progress. I went on to have an incredible, empowering birth experience (and I also passed my course).
Today-still studying chemistry!
#HappybirthdayAbrianna
#AccesstoSEAMbaby
#4today
Just scheduled THE exam. Nervous? Just a bit. Please send all the luck, light all the candles.. whatever your thing is. Whatever happens I know there is no exam that can test my determination. At least I’m trying & hopefully my turn will come
#HPAT2023
#hereforthejourney
.
#latelate
wow, 12 children at 40 (I can’t calculate any of that) and starting medical school. Need to know so much more about Rosemary. A Perfect guest
So let’s chat about some of the questions and comments I’ve gotten.
Has the age limit to study medicine been removed?
There is no age limit on studying medicine in Ireland. There are people in their 20s, 30s, 40s & 50s studying medicine here.
I was asked recently how I do it all-be a parent/carer, study etc. The secret is..I don’t. I drop the ball ALL.THE.TIME. For example, today I forgot to send in a European themed snack to school for the flag ceremony that was taking place. I do my best though-that’s enough.
So I googled ‘oldest person to graduate from RCSI’ cos I was curious. Did I get an answer? No. But this came up. Nope.
Not gonna be me but thanks for making me feel ancient. Serves me right to be fair-I should be studying chemistry and not googling stupid things 🤣
#myturncame
💕
Another year of watching the clock. 4 years ago I didn’t know when I walked through those doors at the
@RotundaHospital
that I would leave a different person. It was around this time I heard those words-my baby had no heartbeat...
It was said to me that as a mature entry student I ‘only’ had to get the HPAT where as Leaving Cert students have to get the LC points plus the HPAT so it’s harder for them.
I get the sentiment but it made me think of how we shouldn’t diminish another person’s achievement.
4 years ago, I enrolled on the Access to SEAM programme
@ucddublin
. It was the launching pad that put me on the path towards my goal of studying medicine. Applications for this year’s intake close on July 12th with the course starting in September.
#UniversityForAll
@UCDforALL
.
@MijkBoyle
@RotundaHospital
By any chance would it happen to be the very people who claim to care so much about mothers and babies except they don’t actually give a toss once the baby is born?
Hope your weekend goes ok x
I seem to have discovered a new level of exhaustion! 28 weeks pregnant today & wondering where did the 2nd trimester go?! Think I missed a few weeks somewhere! How amazing this little lady will be born into a fairer Ireland with no 8th amendment, thanks to so many
#repealheroes
!
For the person who told me their opinion of me is that I advocate for abortion & I should look at what I’m really voting for today-I know exactly what I’m voting YES for. To remove the 8th amendment. It is not a pro life law-it is misogyny on an industrial scale
#TogetherForYes
I’m so disappointed to see that
@campaignforkate
has been eliminated.
She has shared her own personal stories & has been a wonderful advocate for women’s health.
Kate, you ran an honest campaign & should be very proud of all you’ve achieved. Sincerest commiserations.
#GE2020
And in Ireland if you want to study medicine it’s have you got loads of As & a ridiculously high score in the HPAT? Or you could do a degree in something else then go for graduate/mature entry & go into debt paying the fees. Entry should be fair to those from all backgrounds.
"If you want to be a doctor, it's just, have you got loads of As and are you good at hockey?"
Adam Kay, former doctor and author of the bestselling book 'This is Going to Hurt' says medical schools would get a "better calibre of doctor" if they dropped the entry grades.
Birth is wild. Always the unknown.
I’ve always thought I approached it with an open mind but then there are days I still think-Me?! I had a c-section! I think I had just assumed I would have another vaginal birth. Not so.
Happy 1st birthday ‘plot twist’ baby-you are so loved.
Anyways, a little reminder to us all that the stories in the media are about real people who have real feelings & often read the comments. It costs nothing to be kind. And RCSI aren’t going to take my place back because someone on the internet doesn’t think I’m worthy enough.
Cosmetic surgery companies advertising ‘Mommy makeovers’ are absolutely vile. It’s deliberate targeting of vulnerable women & insinuating that there’s something wrong with normal post-partum/post baby bodies. Their ads turn my stomach every time one pops up.
October is
#pregnancyandinfantlossawarenessmonth
.Last week I didn’t post a photo for the
#WaveofLight
. We participate every year so I felt guilty missing this one.But the reality is we remember our babies every day & honour them in different ways. It’s ok to not have a ‘new’ pic.
When your family NAIL the birthday present!
At my interview, I talked about my family support & how they got me a stethoscope for my birthday last year. I joked about the panel ‘guessing’ what I’d like for my next birthday. It happened! This year I get my offer letter framed!
I often think back to the night I found out my baby had no heartbeat.
I already knew from watching the doctor scan me & she confirmed by saying ‘I’m so sorry Rosemary, I can’t see a heartbeat’. Simple but perfect.
What I remember most is that she cared
#bereavementforum19
Maeve-‘I think he likes me’.
If I wanted to set up a photo like this I wouldn’t be able to.
The ‘spare’ hands belong to other big sister Britney.
They never leave him alone-none of them-ever!
#besotted
#babyDion
#cheaperbythedozen
#ourbigfamilylife
Great to see the details of 2 information websites printed on my cariban prescription. Well done
@RotundaHospital
pharmacy.
#wearedelivering
awareness and support.