Michael Irish

He satisfies the desire of those who fear him; He hears their cry for help, and he rescues them.Please except our condolences.

I remember Dr. Irish fondly. He was the most approachable surgeon I have ever worked with. My first memory of him is sitting next to him in a patient conference waiting for it to start and showing each other pictures of our daughter's drawings. He was very proud of his children and talked highly of them. He obviously loved being a father. The world lost a great man.

Stacey R., PT, St. Vincent Evansville

Our family met Dr. Irish in 2001 when my daughter Isabelle (then 11) experienced an aggressive case of Ulcerative Colitis. Dr. Irish performed 3 major surgeries and multiple smaller procedures. I will never forget him telling me to take care of Isabelle as a mom and "let me worry about the medical side." And he did just that and more. He was clearly a gifted surgeon and well thought of by the staff at Blank Children's Hospital. It always amazed me that he could perform as a surgeon, provide compassion and support to us as a family, and spend a time chatting with my daughter. He would patiently let her show him something or another, even if it was just before a procedure. I never forgot him, nor did my daughter, now an adult. I am saddened to think such a man who gave so much to others was suffering in the end. May his children take comfort in reading of how Mike impacted so many lives. He will surely be missed.

I will forever and always be indebted to Dr. Michael Irish. He saved my daughter my whole world in Oct. 2014. He imprinted on my life and I will forever be grateful. Because of him I give back and volunteer as much as possible for children in the Make-A-Wish, IA organization.

I am truly saddened by this tragic loss. He touched so many children, saved so many lives.

In 2000 my youngest daughter was born, Shyan. She had a mass in her throat and chest. The other doctors at the NICU advices us to take her off the machines. Dr. Irish talked to us and said if I thought she was going to be a vegetable in a chair, I wouldn't even consider doing the surgery. But I think she is going to be a bright girl.
He did the surgery, then a few days later removed the breathing tubes. Told me either I'll come out and say we'll have to try something different or she has the sweetest cry ever. Came out took my hand and with tears in his eyes looked at me and said she has the softest sweetest cry I have ever heard. Two years later did a g-tube and a fundalfication.
Now today she is 18 a senior and ready ready to graduate. We owe our baby girls life to him. And he was there when we needed him day or night. Even called on the weekends to see if she was doing ok.
One of his Fighting Miracle Babies is what he called her.
Thoughts and prayers Dawn, Sydney, Spencer.
Thanks for sharing a special man with us.

Shyan Wilson and Family

We are truly saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Michael Irish. Dr. Irish saved our son Max's life several times over in the Spring of 2002, when he was born at 29 weeks with TEF/EA. After multiple surgeries and 4 months at Blank, we decided to airlift Max to Ohio, where we lived. It was the hardest thing telling Dr. Irish that we were going. He simply told us that he felt like he was working on a jigsaw puzzle, and someone pulled it out from under him before he finished. But he understood. This picture is in the summer of 2004, when we went back to Des Moines, and met with Dr. Irish, so that he could see the finished puzzle. What an amazing man. We will never forget what he did for our Max, and our entire family. Such an incredible soul. Thank you Mike for allowing us to have met you and for spreading your sunshine on our family. Rest in peace.

Dr. Irish provided me with the comfort I needed at the most terrifying moment in my life at the time. I had just given birth to my son at a young age and experienced many complications as well as my son being born premature with his own complications. Dr. Irish visited my hospital room to take the time to explain the surgery my son would need in order to live. He performed the surgery when Micah was just 2 days old and He continued watching over him closely the days/weeks following. I was so young and scared but the time and care he provided me and my family I will forever be in debt to. I do not believe my son would be here without him and the world was a better place because of him. I am grateful to have known him and thankful to his family for sacrificing their own time with him to allow him to do so much for so many.