Pat Carey
In life, dad is often the person who is there to pick you up when you fall. But Pat Carey doesn’t just pick his children up off of the ground, he also helps them soar. For this reason, he’s been named our Maxi Cosi Dad of the Year.
When Aaron Carey was born with severe heart defeats, it was the beginning of a scary time for the family. When his newborn son required open-heart surgery at just four days old, Pat remained a quiet strength by his hospital bed. During these early days the silence of the ward was only broken by the nightly chanting of Pat’s favourite lullaby at his son’s bedside, You’ll Never Walk Alone, which Aaron, now 15 years old, still insists is ‘our song.’
In the years since, Aaron has undergone two further open-heart surgeries and his father has remained an unwavering presence. When Aaron is out in the world he feels safe in the knowledge that, no matter what, his dad is no further than a quick text away. When Pat isn’t lighting up the children’s wards with his impressive vocals, he’s dedicating his time to his tremendous charity work. Working tirelessly for Heart Children Ireland and Crumlin’s Children Hospital, Pat spends his time organising car boot sales, Christmas fairs and even skydiving jumps in his fundraising attempts.
Yet it’s not these feats of bravery or acts of amazing kindness that sets Pat apart from the other dads. For Aaron, it’s Pat’s inclination to avoid any thanks or praise for his efforts and achievements that makes him truly deserving of this award. Aaron says, “I don’t have enough words to describe how much my dad deserves this award. I have so much to say about him but it’s hard to write it all down.”
Aaron is proud to witness, first-hand, this hard-working and selfless nature his father dedicates to every aspect of his life. Whether at work, in his role as a caretaker in a local school, or at home, Pat moves through his day, quietly ensuring everyone has what they need. Even with his busy schedule Pat never fails to carve out quality time for Aaron, but no time they spend together is more sacred than watching a Liverpool match. Both avid fans of this legendary team, Aaron explains that a Liverpool game is exclusively ‘our time.’
Unfortunately, Aaron is aware he’ll need further surgeries as he grows older. His only comfort is that with his dad by his side, as he always has been, this future seems significantly less daunting. “I need more open heart surgeries in the future and I know I’ll need my dad there with me,” says Aaron. “Right there by my side is where he will be.”
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