Support Brian Domi on his road to Recovery.

Story

From the close-knit community of Ballymote in Co. Sligo emerges the exceptionally remarkable story of Brian Domi Mallon, a 30-year-old whose life took an unexpected turn. Despite facing daunting challenges, his spirit remains unbroken, shining as a beacon of hope and resilience. A bit of background to this remarkable, warm, and kind young man: Brian grew up in Crozon, Sligo, with his parents, Brenda and Gerard, and his sister, Louise, with their close-knit extended family living nearby. As a child, he enjoyed playing with Lego and "The Sims" and dreamed of being an architect. He was also fascinated with local history and enjoyed speaking to older people, listening to their stories. Brian has a passion for politics and social justice, inspired by his grandfather and uncle. A year abroad in Barcelona during his Erasmus year ignited a love affair with the city, prompting Brian to make it his home for much of his twenties. He completed his master's in sociology in 2022 and was due to begin teaching it to young people in 2023. On March 3, 2023, in an instant, tragedy struck, Brian missed a step descending the stairs of the Sagrada Familia Metro Station in Barcelona on his way home from work. Brian was initially in a coma for two weeks after suffering a brain bleed from the impact of the fall but began making an almost miraculous recovery after waking—he quickly started regaining movement and speech, and his doctors were astounded. During Easter week in 2023, Brian developed a severe infection, which rapidly spread throughout his brain. Despite undergoing surgery to remove the infection, he suffered another brain bleed and fell into a coma once more. This time, recovery was far more challenging. Over the following months in Barcelona, Brian endured 11 surgeries addressing complications, including brain bleeds, infection, craniotomy, cranioplasty, multiple brain shunts, a tracheostomy, and the placement of a PEG feeding tube. These procedures left him facing significant challenges: he lost the ability to talk and communicate, he was left with complete paralysis on his right side, and partial paralysis on his left. Brian spent three months on life support, nearly five months in the ICU, and another five months in the Guttman Institute, a specialist rehabilitation hospital in Barcelona. Gradually, he began to reclaim pieces of his independence. By September, he was breathing on his own. In October, he began eating, and in November, he spoke his first words—mostly “hello” and “yes.” Slowly, he regained some movement and mobility. Unfortunately, his time at the Guttman Institute came to an end, and Brian had to return home before he could fully complete his rehabilitation. Brian returned to Sligo University Hospital (SUH) by air ambulance just after Christmas 2023 where he remained until late January 2024, when he was admitted to the Benbulben Rehabilitation Unit at St. John’s Hospital, Sligo, where he spent two months undergoing physical, occupational, and speech therapy. In May 2024, Brian developed a severe and complex brain condition that led to a major seizure at St. John’s. He was rushed to SUH and, later that evening, transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Over the next three weeks in their high dependency unit, Brian underwent two brain surgeries and began an intensive anti-seizure medication program. After stabilizing, Brian returned to SUH, where he remained in their neurology unit until August, when he secured a place at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire. At the NRH, he had been making remarkable progress and was preparing to return to Sligo on October 23rd. Physically, he was in the best condition since his accident, engaging with his rehabilitation team and participating enthusiastically in physiotherapy and gym activities. Brian had even developed creative ways to communicate his needs and preferences, showcasing his determination to adapt. In October 2024, Brian faced another significant chapter in his recovery journey. While at the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), he experienced another seizure and was readmitted to Beaumont Hospital. There, doctors confirmed that he has epilepsy, requiring adjustments to his medication program. This new diagnosis, compounded by the lingering effects of his initial injuries, marked a major setback. Brian needed considerable time and continued rehabilitation to regain the progress he had made before the seizure. Throughout every step of this life-altering journey, Brian’s family and his partner, Cris, have remained by his side with unwavering love and support. At the end of his time in the NRH in October, Brian transitioned to a community home in Tubbercurry, where he received full-time care tailored to his needs. He remained there until he secured a place at a specialist rehabilitation centre in Galway, where he is currently living. In Galway, Brian now receives daily sessions in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. He has also recently started music therapy every Friday, which he really enjoys. Brian is finally receiving the consistent, specialist care and therapies he needs — and truly deserves. He is working incredibly hard with all of his therapists, and we’re seeing encouraging progress, both physically and cognitively. One major breakthrough is that he hasn’t experienced any seizures since February — a huge relief. This period of stability has allowed him to fully engage in therapy and make meaningful strides. Brian continues to work on regaining his ability to speak, as he is unable to produce speech independently. His family and care team remain hopeful that, over time, specialist therapy will help him activate the right side of his brain — the area that retains the lyrics of his beloved songs — and help him find his voice once again. Every weekend, his family brings him home to Sligo. He is picked up on Friday afternoons and returns to Galway on Sunday evenings. While the travel is a lot, the time together as a family means everything — and his medical team believes the familiar home environment is beneficial to his recovery. Brian’s family hopes to eventually welcome him back home full-time, once significant renovations are completed to create a supportive and accessible living space. They believe that being surrounded by loved ones in a familiar setting will offer the best foundation for Brian’s continued recovery and greater independence. Despite all the setbacks, Brian’s spirit remains unshaken. He continues to laugh, smile, and sing along to his favourite music — moments that bring deep joy to those around him. While he still requires 24/7 care and will for the foreseeable future, his determination shines through every day. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to Brian’s fund, to those who have given their time and energy in support, and to those who have organized and taken part in fundraising events. Every cent received goes directly into the Brian Domi Trust Fund, which is a controlled fund that will be used exclusively for Brian’s rehabilitation and needs. We expect it will help him regain as much independence as possible. We can’t tell you how much it is appreciated and how much it’s a source of comfort and strength for our family.