Sobering Moment for Downpatrick Students

As part of their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their students, SERC has welcomed Theresa Burke to the Downpatrick campus to talk with students about her personal experience of drugs and the impact on her family.

With over one hundred students and staff in attendance, Theresa delivered a sobering presentation about how drugs impacted her family and ultimately claimed the life of her youngest son.

Theresa opened her presentation by talking about her son Kealan, who was a typical young teenage boy who had many interests like playing the guitar, sleeping in, going for a drive and hanging out with his friends. For Theresa she said that “she was naive to the harm that drugs would cause.”  

Theresa recounted memories of her son saying “He had everything to live for. He had friends, a girlfriend, a car and a home but despite all that he was an addict.”

Theresa described her son as a functioning addict who could still get out of bed, study at university, and do other activities with his friends.  

At the time, Kealan’s girlfriend of over five years wasn’t aware of his addiction to drugs like marijuana and ecstasy amongst others. When she found out, she gave him an ultimatum of her or the drugs. He chose drugs. Shortly after this Kealan took an over dose which according to Theresa was believed to be by accident.

Kealan was found in his bedroom after his girlfriend noticed he was missing from university. Keelan was rushed to intensive care where he was placed in a medically induced coma. He would spend the next year and half in different facilities in a permeant vegetative state.

Theresa provided videos of her son at different times throughout the year illustrating the devasting effects drugs can have on not only the person but those around them. 

Theresa described Kealan’s final days after contracting a bladder infection as the hardest she’s ever experienced. She spent over two weeks at his bedside holding his hand.  

On his final night, Theresa was told by nurses that he was doing well so she went home to get some rest and to look after her elderly mother. During the night Theresa’s mother wanted to see Kealan one more time. Upon arrival, Theresa was told that Kealan had passed only minutes before her arrival. 

Theresa said “He never lived at home again: He never played guitar again; He never drove his car again; He never finished university; He died on February 25th, 2009. One week after his 22nd birthday.”

She continued:

“Kealan’s life wasn’t a waste. It was worth something.”  

Theresa finished per presentation saying that she got the number for the drug dealer who sold Kealan the drugs. Upon ringing the number, she was simply told “All I did was sell them. It was your son that took them.”

Theresa finished by saying that “if you choose to take drugs, think of the impact it will have on not just your own life, but the lives of all those around you.”  

In closing, SERC’s Downpatrick Campus Manager and Head of Learning Support and Pastoral Care Paul Walsh thanked Theresa for sharing her tragic story with the students saying:

“It is a hard-hitting reality of the impact of her story. The decision is yours, but the impact reaches much further and wider than you may understand.”

SERC provides free, one-to-one counselling support that is available to all students. Our counselling service can offer support and guidance for a range of issues. This service is available by appointment at the Bangor, Downpatrick and Lisburn campus each Tuesday from 10am-2pm and at the Ards campus each Tuesday from 11am-2pm.

Appointments can be made by emailing support@inspirewellbeing.org or by calling 0800 389 5362.