Carer mum makes plea to President for son’s op
Praise for fundraising campaign as teen beats rare form of disease
Michael D Higgins A HEARTBROKEN mother has called on President Michael D Higgins to help get her son a vital operation.
Liz Hanlon was named Donegal Carer Of The
Year in 2016 and met the President at Aras an Uachtarain.
He commended her for dedicating her life to her son Jason, 26, who was born with health complications and is wheelchair-bound.
Despite his ill health his family said he has always been a happy and contented young man.
However, in recent years Jason developed scoliosis and is in constant pain.
Jason, from Doochary, is on a list for a vital operation to fix the curvature of his spine at Tallaght Hospital.
But it has been put back on two occasions.
PLIGHT
Liz tried to contact
Health Minister Simon Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to highlight her son’s plight but to no avail.
Now she is pinning her hopes on the president.
Liz said: “We had a lovely day meeting President Higgins and he was very understanding to Jason’s situation.
“He commended us for looking after Jason and it was lovely to get such compliments.
“But I think back on that day and think to where we are now and how Jason has basically been forgotten about. It’s an absolute disgrace.
“I’m hoping he may remember us and I’m hoping he can do something for us.
“He was a very understanding man and I simply want to show him how an operation would change Jason’s life for ever.
“He is still in so much pain and every day it is getting worse.
“We really need to get somebody to make a decision on this before it is too late for Jason.
“He cannot face another winter going through this pain.” AN Irish teenager is cancer free after spending 18 months receiving intensive treatment in the US.
Shauntelle Tynan flew to the States last year after a fundraising campaign gathered enough money to cover the cost of her treatment and travel.
The 19-year-old was diagnosed with multi-system Langheran’s cell histiocytosis in May 2015 – a cancer so rare there is only one specialist doctor in the world able to treat it.
But now Shauntelle is finally free of the disease and her parents announced the “best news ever” on Facebook.
In a heartfelt post they wrote: “So last night we got to get out and crack a bottle or two of Champagne.
“The news we have waited so long to hear has come. Shan is cancer free. Technically she is NAD (no active disease).
“This is the day we have dreamed about and anticipated for so long.”
The family, from Co Carlow, revealed Shauntelle will continue to take medication to keep the disease at bay. They wrote: “Shan will have ongoing issues and she will remain on oral chemo for the next 12 to 18 months.
“We have secured the best medical care for her in Ireland upon our return.
“She will travel back and forth to Texas every three to six months initially and yearly for the rest of her life.
“Our hope is that maintenance dosage of chemo and her port removal will take place over the next six to seven weeks.
“Shan will get on that plane home October 18. We are beyond grateful for Teen receives treatment in Texas hospital everything you have all done to get us this far, something we could’ve only dreamed of before, you all made happen!
“We are still in great shock to finally hear this news, but happier than we have ever been.”
They also included a few words from Shauntelle, who was over the moon.
She said: “I just wanted to say a humongous thank you to everyone who followed my journey, liked the page, shared my posts, donated and who helped get my story out there.
“Thank you to all of the news outlets, radio stations and television interviews which helped us so much.
“There are way too many people to name personally, but a very special thank you also goes to our committee, who continuously brought ideas to the table to help in fundraisers and making our life that bit less stressful in trying to contain such a huge campaign.
“Thank you so much to the Gavin Glynn Foundation who didn’t just give financial support but emotional support too. They gave us advice on absolutely everything and we could’ve never been as prepared as we were without them. They are family now and a true blessing to our lives.
“This post would not be done without giving the final and biggest thanks to my mother who was unstoppable since my diagnosis and the biggest thanks also to Dr Mcclain.
“He is the best doctor ever and the support I received from him, Mark Wallace [president of Texas Children’s Hospital] his wife and all the staff and nurses went above and beyond to make this stay that little bit better.
“We are so lost for words right now but wanted you all to know my journey of active cancer has come to a close and we hope it remains that way.
“The future obstacles I will face will be worth everything I’ve been through.
“Now I truly have a chance at life and will keep you all updated to how I grow in the future.
“Next stop is ringing that bell I’ve watched so many kids ring when they got to cancer free – something we never thought I’d do.”