CHRISTMAS IN HOSPITAL FOR LITTLE POPPY
Lots of support for the brave three-year-old from Rathnew
AS THREE-YEAR- OLD Poppy Mernagh prepares to spend Christmas in an isolation room in Temple Street Hospital, her parents have thanked everyone who has contributed to a fundraising drive for the brave youngster.
The daughter of Jennifer Tymlin and Edward Mernagh, Poppy became ill last June with enterovirus D68. She has been left paraplegic and is dependent on ventilation to breathe.
A fundraising drive was established by friends almost immediately, and Jennifer and Edward have been moved by the amount of support Poppy has received.
‘It has been a tough six months but people have been amazing and we couldn’t have gotten to this point without all their support,’ said Jennifer.
‘ Temple Street have been great to Poppy and I know she is looking forward to Christmas. Santa has been to visit her twice in hospital already.’
MOST youngsters will wake up early on Christmas morning at their home and race to the Christmas tree to see what Santa brought for them this year, before spending the rest of their day playing with their gifts alongside offspring and friends.
Three-year-old Poppy Mernagh will spend Christmas in an isolation room in Temple Street Hospital.
The daughter of Jennifer Tymlin and Edward Mernagh, Poppy became ill last June with enterovirus D68. This inflamed her spinal cord from the brain stem right down to the bottom. Her motor nerves were damaged, leaving Poppy paraplegic and with paralysed or weakened internal organs. Poppy is now dependent on ventilation to breathe.
‘It has been a very tough six months or so,’ said Jennifer.
‘It has been very rough on Poppy. She was in ICU for quite a while. Now she is confined to an isolation room which she isn’t allowed to leave. She is only allowed out of bed for two hours each day.
‘ Temple Street has been great to her and I know she is looking forward to Christmas. Santa has been to visit her twice in hospital. It will be her first Christmas in hospital but she is so used to lying in bed it has almost become her normal life.’
A fundraising drive was established by friends almost immediately, and Jennifer and Edward have been taken aback by the amount of support Poppy has received.
‘People have been amazing and we couldn’t have gotten to this point without all their support,’ added Jennifer.
‘I was self-employed but had to give up my work because of Poppy’s illness. I’m not entitled to anything and we can’t get any carer’s allowance or domiciliary payment until Poppy actually comes home.
‘We share our time between hospital and home. I do five days in Temple Street and two at home with my other daughter Annabelle. Edward is working at home and covers weekends in the hospital and comes up once per week for training. We are like passing ships. Unfortunately, our living costs have not changed and have actually become greater and we need funds to meet our living costs. We have already been able to buy a wheelchair assessable car thanks to everyone’s generosity.
‘Poppy has been tested for assisted technology which would be a huge benefit to her. It would be great for her learning and would also give her that bit of independence, but it’s very difficult to get Government funding.
‘When Poppy does get home we will require a HSE Home Care package for nursing at home. She will required 24 hour care. I will be her main carer but it has also been estimated that she will need the assistance of another carer for 160 hours a week. You have to keep her air-ways clear and it takes two people to change her tracheostomy tube.’
The family has also been waiting for a specially adapted house from Wicklow County Council and is currently having to rent privately.
There is currently a raffle ongoing for a signed Leinster Jersey kindly donated by Sarah Quilter. Tickets are on sale online through the ‘Precious Poppy’s Journey’ Facebook page. The draw will take place this Friday, December 23.
Tickets cost €5 for one entry or €10 for three entries. The jerseyj would make an ideali Christmas gift anda the draw takes placep at 8 p.m.
Donations toward Poppy’s rehabilitation can also be made by visiting www.gofundme.com/2cskjbb8.
‘People have been amazing and we couldn’t have gotten to this point without their support’