Miriam Meets... Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton
This week Miriam O'Callaghan meets Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton.
They tell Miriam of their experience of emigrating to the United States in the 1980s and their campaigning work on behalf of Irish immigrants there.
Unlike many who emigrated in the 80s, Ciaran and Orlaith settled in the United States where their son Rory and their daughter Kathleen were born.
Ciaran tells Miriam about his role in the Peace Process especially in the delicate negotiations that lead to Gerry Adams being granted a visa to visit the United States in the early 1990s.
Ciaran and Orlaith are campaigning to raise awareness of sepsis, the medical condition that resulted in their son Rory's death in April of last year. The diagnosis of the condition came too late to save Rory's life. Sepsis can kill very quickly if appropriate treatment is not given to the patient. Ciaran and Orlaith are hoping that by raising awareness of the condition and campaigning to improve doctor patient communication, lives can be saved.
They describe their friendly, lively son and the devastating impact Rory's death has had on them, their daughter Kathleen and their families.
Information on sepsis can be found on the HSE website here.
