Another delay for Noah with time ‘rapidly running out’..
Mum’s fears as she tells hospital her son needs vital scoliosis surgery now
A Seven-year-old boy has had his scoliosis surgery cancelled for the third time this year, only days after his mother told her son’s hospital that “time is rapidly running out” for him.
Young Noah Quish’s ribcage is squeezing his lungs because of a “massive curve” growing on his spine, which was first diagnosed five years ago.
Noah, from Monaleen, Co Limerick, has extremely complex health conditions. He was born with a heart condition, hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain), a chromosome deletion, laryngomalacia (voice box defect), he is nonverbal and is fed via a tube inserted in his abdomen.
Noah’s mother, Una Quish, said her son’s surgery was already cancelled twice this year, although he was considered fit for surgery his surgeon was not available. It was cancelled on a further three previous occasions late last year when Noah was too ill.
He also underwent six brain surgeries between last July and December last year after he contracted meningitis when a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt inserted in his head to drain fluid from his brain became infected.
The boy recovered from the serious infection, but on March 1 this year, Ms Quish shared how her son was still waiting for a date for scoliosis surgery.
In an email sent to Crumlin Children’s Hospital on March 4, Ms Quish told the hospital: “Noah’s organs are being distorted, his weight is decreasing, his lung function is being affected, and he is in pain. We feel that time is rapidly running out for Noah and he needs his spinal surgery now.”
The email stated that, due to Noah’s complex health conditions, “a neurosurgeon should be physically present” at his scoliosis surgery.
Ms Quish asked the hospital if a neurosurgeon would be present whenever Noah would receive his scoliosis operation, but said she did not receive a specific reply.
She also asked Crumlin “how frequently and who from the neurosurgical team will monitor and assess Noah post-operatively as an inpatient in the days weeks after he is admitted following his scoliosis surgery”.
Ms Quish also asked in the email for her son’s latest Cobb angle (degree of curvature), and enquired if “plastic surgery would be needed for Noah’s wound closure, given the extent of his curvature”.
The email said: “It is some time since Noah’s pre-operative assessment was conducted. Please advise if this is to be redone to have a more up-to-date medical overview of Noah.”
On March 6, Crumlin informed Ms Quish that Noah’s surgery had been scheduled to take place on March 13.
In a Facebook post, Ms Quish asked people to pray for Noah that he would come through the surgery citing how serious the procedure would be for him due to his complex history.
However, on March 7, Crumlin informed Ms Quish that Noah’s surgery had been cancelled, and that she could discuss any concerns she might have had about her son’s surgery during an outpatient’s appointment – for which she is still awaiting a date.
She said: “I had everything prepared, we were so ready.
“Noah is now suffering, things are getting worse and he needs this surgery. His knees are swollen, he actually has bursitis (inflammation) of the knees, and it’s all because of his spine.”
CHI did not respond for comment.
His organs are being distorted, Noahs’s weight is decreasing MUM’S EMAIL TO DOCS DESCRIBING SON’S ISSUES