Miracle boy takes a call from Capuchin who saved his life
AN 11-YEAR-OLD Farranfore boy once dubbed ‘The Miracle Baby’ in medical circles in two hospitals in Dublin, was among the attendance at the opening St Pio / Padre Pio Novena in Castleisland last week.
Jayden Foley weighed in at a mere two-and-a-half pounds when he arrived 14-weeks early in hospital in Tralee just a week before Christmas Day in 2008.
He was immediately sent to Dublin as complications, including the dreaded meningitis, beset him.
“I’ll never forget that week up to Christmas and St. Stephen’s Day was worse,” said Jayden’s mom, Catheriona.
“That day he was really sick and we were told there was little or no hope for him and to make matters worse we were told he had a rare form of meningitis.
“While the medical staff members were updating us on his worsening condition, one of the nurses on duty told us we should ask the nearby Capuchins if they would bring in the glove of Padre Pio.
“They got in touch and Brother Richard arrived. All I remember are the brown, flowing robes and sandals – and it was a freezing night.
“He blessed Jayden that night and slowly but surely from then on he began to recover and get stronger.
“The medical staff admitted they were baffled at the turnaround and the recovery he made and they told us afterwards that they were fearing the worst in spite of all their best efforts to help him.
“Years afterwards they still found it hard to believe that Jayden came out of that frightening emergency without a scar or any lingering medical condition – especially after the meningitis – as they expected him to have all kinds of complications after that.
“It was then they labelled him ‘The Miracle Baby’ before we eventually left Dublin.
“We’re big believers in the power of Padre Pio and we were delighted to hear that Fr Brick was bringing the devotions to Castleisland – we wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
“It gave Jayden a chance to meet Br Bryan Shortall after the novena there on Tuesday night and Br Bryan rang his colleague Br Richard and he put Jayden onto him and they had a great chat.
“Brother Richard remembered the night well and he was delighted to hear from Jayden.
“We couldn’t forget what he did for us on that night when we thought all hope was gone and we send him a card every Christmas. We called in to meet him in Dublin one day afterwards but he had moved,” said Catheriona.
Jayden is now a sturdy 11 year old and he plays hurling and football for Firies GAA Club and soccer for Ballyhar Dynamos.