Friends Rally to Help Catherine O'Malley

A fundraising event to help Catherine Ann O'Malley, a local high school student who suffered cardiac arrest a year ago, is taking place today at Lily Flanagan's.

O'Malley had been a healthy teenager striving to making the lacrosse team last March when she collapsed on the athletic fields just one day after turning 17 years old.

She was initially taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and then transferred to Mt. Sinai in New York City.

Six friends have organized this weekend's event to both raise funds and keep O'Malley's good spirits on a positive path. Ryan McKeown, a BHS graduate and a responding EMT to O'Malley's collapse, said the event will include a buffet, open bar, door prizes, raffles and a Chinese auction.

“Some of the prizes include a one-year membership to Fitness Incentive and a 32-inch  TV," said McKeown. The event's DJ is Fire Department Chief Anthony Cardali.

Community support has been strong since the start, and has grown thanks to social networking efforts.

Catherine’s older sisters, Shannon and Meghan, launched a Facebook group called Catherine Ann to alert friends and family about their sister's recovery progress. The site boasts nearly 2,000 friends.  

The Facebook effort is also helping friends and family share anecdotes and stories about O'Malley as she recovers. One story is of how Catherine painted her bedroom a bright lime green on the spur of the moment just a month before her cardiac arrest.

“She was always coming up with something different. She’s so unique,” said Erica Busch, a family friend. 

While still unable to speak, O'Malley's irrepressible personality hasn't been muted.

“She’s kept her personality,” Busch said. “The doctors say that’s a thing that can’t be taught again after something like this.  You have it or you don’t.  And Catherine does.  It’s a miracle--her spunkiness is still there.”

“It’s amazing how many people she’s touched. Even when she transfers to a new hospital, all the doctors from the previous place keep calling to check up on her,” she added.

One of the most poignant posts on the Facebook site is from friend Kate Sherwood. She wrote “ ... today I was riding my bike and all of a sudden I saw this beautiful, bright green butterfly ... land gracefully on my bike. I thought it was so strange because I’ve never seen a butterfly so lime-colored ...”

She ends the message with a few simple words: “... keep fighting, love.”

And that’s what the steady community and family support effort has been about all year. About hope. About persistence.

The fundraiser will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and tickets ($50 for those 21 and older; $35 for those under 21 years old) are available by calling Cait Augustine at 631-560-3820; Kevin Kelland at 631-827-6918; Kerry Carlock at 631-943-0693; Ryan McKeown at 631-626-1126; or by email at fundraiser.for.catherine@gmail.com. Organizers recommend buying tickets ahead of time given expected demand.