The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tina’s mother to continue fight for banned medicine
THERE is huge sadness in Kilflynn this week after brave teenager Tina McElligott lost her battle for life early on Sunday morning.
Tina, who was diagnosed with the incurable neurological condition known as Alpers disease in 2016, passed away at her home in Kilflynn on Sunday in the arms of her mother Margaret (Mags) and father, Martin.
Speaking about Tina on Tuesday afternoon, Mags paid an emotional tribute to her “very special” daughter who she described as an “honest, caring and loving little girl.”
“She was our Princess Tina and she was so loved by all of us here. Her language was appalling, but that was her and we loved her for it,” Mags told The Kerryman.
“Tina was Tina and that’s the way she was. It didn’t matter if it was the priest or the Pope himself that walked in our door, Tina said it as it was,” Mags smiled.
“It’s an incredibly tough time for us all here, but I know that the next few days will be even tougher. I don’t think that I am ready to let her go yet,” she said.
“It is a quiet house here today. Even though it is full of people, it feels quiet and empty,” she said.
Mags led a year-long campaign last year to win the right for Tina to use medicinal cannabis, even taking her to Barcelona where she received cannabis oil treatment. As a result Tina was free of seizures for over 40 days.
On Tuesday Mags said that Tina’s passing is only the beginning of her fight for the legalisation of cannabis oil.
“Today is only the beginning of my fight for children like Tina and anybody out there that needs to get access to this cannabis oil. I am never giving up, this is only the start for me,” she said.
“I will fight on for Tina and I will never give up, it is all going to be in her name and in honour of her memory, her spirit and her strength. If we succeed then, we are going to call it Tina’s Law. That is our hope,” she said.
A guard of honour will line the streets of Kilfynn ahead of Tina’s funeral in St Mary’s Church in the village at 11am this morning (Wednesday, February 14) and Mags is encouraging anyone who comes to pay their respects to forgo the usual black and dress with a bit of colour.
“Wear clothes with a bit of colour and life in them. Tina wouldn’t want anything to do with the morbid black, she would have wanted some fun,” Mags said.