Brave little Poppy is all smiles as she starts her first day at school
IT’S a key moment in any child’s life but for four-yearold Poppy Mernagh and her proud family starting ‘big school’ yesterday was so much more.
The courageous youngster’s complex condition has left her paralysed from the neck down, unable to breathe without a ventilator and in need of roundthe-clock care.
But determined Poppy was never going to let illness stop her from starting mainstream primary school.
There was nobody prouder yesterday than parents Jennifer
‘We couldn’t be prouder of her’
Tymlin and Edward Mernagh as she enrolled in junior infants at Scoil na Coróine Mhuire in Ashford, Co. Wicklow.
Poppy, from Rathnew had been a perfectly healthy and happygo-lucky child up to two years ago when she suddenly developed flu-like symptoms and was initially diagnosed with tonsillitis and then pneumonia.
Her condition rapidly deteriorated, after which it was confirmed she had non-polio acute flaccid paralysis – which cannot be cured.
However, the youngster’s illness hasn’t hampered her parents’ dream of seeing their youngest child leading as normal a life as possible.
That dream took a major step closer to reality yesterday when Poppy – under the watch of a special needs assistant and a nurse – defied the odds to begin primary school.
Proud mother Jennifer, whose seven-year-old daughter Annabelle attends the same school, said: ‘This is a huge moment in our lives, and, of course, in Poppy’s life. It’s not been easy to get to this stage, and the school and the principal have been great.
‘A lot of work has gone on over the summer to get everything in place for her.
‘Poppy will have two fully trained people with her at all times at school, but she’s a bright little girl and we’re just delighted that she’s able to start a mainstream education. She added: ‘She’s a little bit nervous, but hopefully she’s going to settle in fine. Her big sister is at the same school too, so I’m sure she’ll be keeping an eye on her.
‘We just couldn’t be prouder of Poppy. She has been through so much to make it to this day, and we just want her to lead as normal a life and as happy a life as possible.’