Joey’s been through so much, we are constantly on the edge of fear
Toddler’s family €330k appeal for life-saving liver procedure
A MUM who has raised more than €200,000 for life-saving surgery for her two-year-old son has told of the pain at hearing him whimper as he was treated for sepsis.
Joey Conway has had more trauma in the past two years than most people will experience in their lifetime, his mum Natalie said.
He developed an invasive Group A Strep infection shortly after he was born, which left him on a ventilator for two weeks in the ICU at Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
The Offaly boy has been diagnosed with sepsis twice – first when he was just eight months old and quickly taken away for blood tests, X-rays and a lumbar puncture.
Natalie recalled: “Those moments are not easy, you would swap places with him in a heartbeat. The cries and the whimpering when he was handed back to me are moments I will never forget.” Joey has been diagnosed with Portal Vein Thrombosis, which has led to the rare life-threatening liver condition Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension.
It carries a 40% risk of death on the first episode of bleeding.
Right now, he has to undergo surgery up to four times a year to band varices in his oesophagus to stop them from bleeding as this is the only treatment for the condition available in Ireland.
However, there is a procedure in the US that would bypass an obstruction and restore normal portal flow to Joey’s liver – giving the little boy his life back.
His parents have set up a Gofundme campaign to pay for the life-saving
Joey, aged two
Joey Conway & parents Natalie and Tommy surgery, which will cost €330,000. So far, they have raised just over €200,000.
Natalie said: “Joey is the funniest boy with the biggest smile and a contagious laugh that would brighten up the darkest day. “He has been through so much in his short life and is the bravest little man who is loved so by his big sister Molly and little brother Jordi.
“We are constantly living on the edge in fear of, ‘Is he going to cough up blood? Or ‘Is this the nappy that will have the blood in it?’ We hear him coughing in bed, we check straight away to see if there is blood on the sheets. Or is he having too much fun laughing? Will this make him bleed?’
“Our current protocol for Joey is, if he gets a temperature we must attend A&E to rule out sepsis.
“We would do anything for our little man to keep him safe but this takes its toll on the whole family and most importantly Joey.
“We feel like we are constantly putting out fires instead of quenching them and especially this time of year, with every bug going, it’s difficult.
“As he gets older, it’s harder and harder to see him not walking and playing.
“We know he wants to and he is becoming more and more frustrated in not having the ability to do these things.” ■ If you would like to donate, visit Natalie’s Gofundme page.
SO CUTE
He is the funniest boy with the biggest smile
NATALIE CONWAY JOEY’S MUM, CO OFFALY