It is great sadness we share that Ilona György, internationally renowned paediatric neurologist, died on 9 July 2024, at the age of 87.
She graduated summa cum laude from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Debrecen, Hungary. In 1966 she became a specialist of paediatrics. At the suggestion of her head professor, she began to study neurology with a view to becoming a paediatric neurologist. Four years later, after successfully completing her neurology degree, she returned to the Debrecen University Children Hospital, where she worked and taught for 57 years. She qualified as a paediatric neurologist in 1984. She became the first paediatric neurologist in North-East Hungary. “Neurology was exciting but there were so many sad, lonely patients among the adults, and children are always happy when they improve a little and return our love”– she said, explaining her return to the children. She treated thousands of kids during her long life. She did not rest until she found the exact cause of the disease and explored the most modern and effective treatment methods.
She was involved for a while with neonates, within neonatal neurology. She was also interested in the treatment of children with epilepsy. Her book “About childhood epilepsy for parents” was published in 1992. Many of her manuscripts have been published in both Hungarian and foreign languages. She was the author of several chapters on neurology in paediatric books.
She was one of the five founding members of the Hungarian Paediatric Neurology Society in 1974. She was actively involved in the work of the Society until the end of her life and directed its activities for many years. She also played an active role in the work of the Hungarian League Against Epilepsy, serving as a board member for several years.
She was happy to teach and pass on her experience to thousands of medical students, residents and other medical professionals. She was always delighted by the love and respect of her former students, their patients and their parents.
In 2003, the Hungarian Paediatric Neurology Society awarded her with the Schöpf-Merei Prize in recognition of her outstanding work.
In 2015, at the Congress of the European Paediatric Neurology Society (EPNS) in Vienna she was accepted as an honorary member of the EPNS.
She worked actively until the age of 82 years.
She had an inexpressible curiosity about the world and people, so she travelled a lot. There is probably no country she hasn’t visited. She was also a famously good housewife, a great cook. She took great pleasure in gardening.
Her sentences illustrate best her credo of teaching and healing:
“After half a century of work, I still consider paediatric neurology the most beautiful profession. We see many tragedies, but even if we cannot always cure, we can improve the situation of our patients. I have always strived not only to treat the disease, but also to improve the quality of life of the patient and the family. My advice to the newly qualified doctors: Feel as responsible for your patients as you do for your families! Keep yourselves constantly educated! Take the time to educate the parents of your little patients! Listen their complaints and provide them not only medical but also lifestyle advice! Love the children and be happy with the small successes in their treatment!”
Dr Ilona György was one of the founders of Hungarian Paediatric Neurology. Her work is an example to all of us. She was respected and loved by every Hungarian paediatric neurologist.
We will keep her memory.
Prof. Dr. Katalin Hollódy
President of the Hungarian Paediatric Neurology Society