We miss Tristan every single day
Tristan Neiland THE grieving mum of a seriously ill boy who died during a weekend stay in a care unit said yesterday: “I miss him. Every single day.”
Tragic Tristan Neiland, six, was found unresponsive in the respite care facility – which no longer looks after children with high medical needs as a result.
St John of God Community Services apologised to the Neiland family.
His mum Angela said after his inquest in Dublin yesterday: “We note his death and the circumstances surrounding it resulted in changes being made.
“In that context Tristan’s death has not been in vain.”
The child, from Cabinteely, South Dublin, suffered from epilepsy, asthma and global development delay.
In January 2013, he was staying at Carmona Special National School in Dun Laoghaire, which is run by St John Of God.
His mother told Dublin Coroner’s Court her son suffered from seizures, mostly in the night and early morning.
Tristan could not breathe during them and needed oxygen at the onset, she said.
Mrs Neiland understood her son would be “constantly monitored” using a sats monitor, which measures oxygen saturation levels.
She brought the equipment to the Carmona centre and left instructions, telling staff it should only be attached once her son was “deeply asleep” as it could otherwise disturb him.
Staff put Tristan to bed at 8.30pm on January 5, 2013.
There was no monitor attached as staff were of the opinion he was not deeply asleep, the inquest heard.
When someone checked Tristan shortly before 11pm he was found unresponsive.
He was rushed to hospital but pronounced dead the next day.
Pathologist Dr Maureen O’sullivan gave cause of death as sudden unexplained death in epilepsy.
The centre no longer accepts children with “high medical needs”.
Returning a narrative verdict, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane endorsed changes made since Tristan’s death.
YESTERDAY IN DUBLIN
His death resulted in changes and so has not been in vain ANGELA NEILAND