MUM IN PLEA FOR DAUGHTER
Mary Kate (8) has just been left ‘abandoned by the State’ claims worried mother
THE Drogheda mum of a girl with severe intellectual disabilities and autism says she is so desperate to get special care for her daughter, she has been forced to set up a Go Fund Me page.
Mary Jane Maguire, originally from Trinity Street, says her eight-year-old girl Mary Kate has been ‘abandoned by the State’, and the only respite she was offered was to take her 2-year old son, who has no such condition.
The single mum of two, who has been living in Dundalk and is now moving back to her hometown, hasn’t left her house for almost a month, and had her own tooth knocked out during one of her daughter’s violent episodes.
She fears for her son’s safety, as well as her own mental health, as she struggles to cope with her daughter’s special needs.
“Mary Kate had been in St Mary’s Drumcar, but in my opinion, she has really disimproved since was there, as she used to be able to say seven words, and she is now down to two, and she has had to start wearing nappies again,” explains the young mother.
“Her behaviour has also got worse, and she is now biting, and headbutting people and even the wall, hurting herself and others, as well as setting the kitchen on fire after microwaving her toys.”
Mary Jane says her daughter only received around six hours of speech therapy over the past three years and she is now feeling increasingly isolated as Mary Kate’s condition worsens.
“I am trying to find somewhere to move back to In Drogheda, as I have family here – my brother Christopher is a pastor in the Emmanuel Church in Ballsgrove – and the ABACAS school has said they can put Mary Kate on a waiting list for a place,” says Mary Jane (30).
“I am exhausted and barely get any sleep and Mary Kate hasn’t left her bedroom in almost a month, which means I am stuck in the house, and I have to tell you, I’m finding it really hard.”
She says the last time Mary Kate was assessed by Tusla, they said she was very mild and didn’t need home services.
But last year, she pushed her 15-month-old brother Dylan to the ground leaving him needing four stitches to his head.
“I was shocked when they offered to take Dylan to give me respite, but it’s help I need with Mary Kate,” she says.
“Even for the two hours care she is supposed to get in the home per week, they only come for around 45 minutes, and I am there the whole time, so it is no respite for me.”
Her story was highlighted in national press late last year, to little avail, and Mary Jane thinks the window is closing for her daughter’s condition or behaviour to improve, so has started to pay for private therapy sessions for her.
“It’s €90 per month for occupational and speech therapy in a private clinic, so I have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for that,” explains Mary Jane.
“It is not something I want to do, but I feel I have no choice, as if I don’t do something to help her, it seems no one will.”
Mary Jane is trying to raise €10,000 for longterm therapy and care, and her Go Fund Me page is Give Marykate her Voice.