‘If Harris could hear my son’s screams, he’d do something’
A DESPERATE mother has invited the Health Minister to visit her ill son who screams in pain as he awaits an operation to fix his spine. Jason Hanlon has needed constant care since he was born 26 years ago with a number of health complications. His family say that although he must use a wheelchair, he had managed to lead a happy life until recently. However, in recent years, Jason has developed scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and is now living in constant pain. Jason, from Doochary in Co. Donegal, is on a list for a vital operation to fix the curvature at Tallaght Hospital in Dublin. But that operation has now been put back on two occasions. And now his mother Liz fears he will not be operated on until next year as he cannot undergo a procedure during the winter months because of fears of infection.
Liz said: ‘Jason has had many challenges since birth but despite this, he has always been a happy and contented child and we always cared for him.
‘But the progression of scoliosis has turned his life into a living hell for himself and for all of us.
‘He is in constant pain and we are feeding him painkillers, which is not doing him any good. His bowels are suffering as a result and I’m just not sure how long he can take this,’ she said. ‘This will kill him in the end and time is running out.’
Liz said she appreciates the fact that there are other people on the waiting list for similar operations, but she simply cannot stand by and watch her son suffer.
She invited Health Minister Simon Harris to come to Donegal to see for himself the agony her son is going through on a daily basis.
‘If he could hear the screams of Jason then he might do something about it. Nobody should have to go through this.
‘He is in constant pain and to hear his cries day and night is just heartbreaking for us as a family.
‘Perhaps if the minister heard his pain first-hand, then it would prove to him how quickly Jason needs this operation,’ she said.
Jason is cared for by his family, including sister Áine and brother Adrian, a former Donegal GAA star. Áine said to see her brother in constant pain was something she cannot take much longer.
‘To sit and watch my brother scream 24/7, with tears streaming down his wee face and not being able to explain to him what is happening to his own body is heartbreaking,’ Áine said.
‘We can only hope there is an answer soon and that his suffering eases.’ She said the family was very angry and upset, but they were willing to fight every step of the way for Jason. ‘We will never stop fighting your corner, and as a family we will be your voice for you, Jason,’ she added.
‘This will kill him in the end’