Cliona's Foundation Urgent Appeal for Funds for 27 Families

Waiting is such a difficult part of having a child with a life-limiting condition; waiting for a hospital bed, waiting for test results, waiting for what could be good or bad news, waiting for treatment. Right now, we have 27 families that urgently need our help, but there is nothing we can do for them except put them on our waiting list”.

Terry Ring, co-founder of Cliona’s Foundation, talks about the long list of families who have sought financial aid from the charity, none of whom can be helped due to a lack of funds. We are sharing five of these families’ stories, hoping to shed light on how desperately these funds are needed. All names have been changed to protect the privacy of the families.

Having a child with a life-limiting condition engulfs families, changing their lives. Caring for a seriously ill child takes a tremendous toll, both emotionally and physically.  The hidden costs can be overwhelming for these families due to the unending list of added expenses; from parking to petrol, additional heat and extra childcare. Cliona’s Foundation is a registered charity founded in 2007 to provide financial assistance for non-medical expenses to families across Ireland with children undergoing long-term medical treatment. Cliona’s Foundation has supported non-medical expenses for over 450 families with a sick child in 29 counties across Ireland.

Family No.1: The O’Brien Family

Sam O’Brien, a seven month old little boy from Limerick, is currently undergoing numerous medical tests at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin in Crumlin for a multitiude of medical problems. Sam has spent his entire life in hospital, having been diagnosed with a hole in his heart, sleep apnoeia, a severe chromosomal disorder, a dysfunctional voicebox, as well as suspected respiratory difficulties. Two months ago little Sam underwent open heart surgery.

• Jackie, Sam’s mother, has had her state maternity benefit cease month’s ago, and has received no state benefit since May, when Sam was just 4 months old.
• Jackie cares for Sam full time and so cannot work.
• Sam’s father works full time. He earns a modest income, which unfortunately does not meet the financial demands of Sam’s condition.
• The family are really struggling to meet the cost of daily living.
• Due to a lack of finances, Jackie has no choice but to keep their other child, a 4 year old little girl, with her in Crumlin hospital full time, as they cannot afford to pay for childcare without any financial aid.

Family No. 2: The McCann Family

Amy McCann recently turned 16 four months ago. The teenager was first diagnosed with a malignant tumour at just 4 years of age. As a result of the serious and significant amount of cancer treatments the young child underwent, Amy has developed cardiomyopathy. She is restricted in her movement and requires a wheelchair to mobilises. Amy now spends almost all of her time in hospital, awaiting a heart transplant in the Mater hospital.

• Amy’s parents have three other children to care for.
• Her mother, Ruth, has had to leave her job to provide full time care to Amy.
• Amy’s father, Sean, works full time to support the family.
• Amy has experienced several years on St John’s ward for cancer and is now in the cardiac ward.
• The lengthy admissions and numerous medical treatments have caused severe financial strain on the family, and they are in serious need of financial support at this time.

Family No. 3: The Carroll family

Louise Carroll is a 5 month old patient at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Louise has severely poor heart function. So severe, that she is not even being considered for surgery. While little Louise reviewed closely and regularly, her prognosis is not hugely positive.

• Louise’s parents, Frank and Linda, were trying for a child for over twenty years before her birth. Last year, after years of saving, they were successful in IVF treatment.
• Linda was told that she was having twins, and shortly after was informed that one of her children would have a heart condition, and Down syndrome was also noted as a possibility.
• Tragically, Linda and Frank’s first twin, Robert, did not survive birth.
• Louise was born with congenital heart disease and Down Syndrome. Since birth, her heart condition has steadily deteriorated.
• Neither Linda nor Frank can work at this time, as they are spending as much time with their daughter as they can.
• During this unimaginably difficult time, they are paying a mortgage on their house, they are paying for accommodation in Ronald MacDonald House, parking, travel expenses and medical expenses. They are desperately in need of  financial assistance.

Family No. 4: The O’Leary Family

Four month old Joey O’Leary has spent the entirety of his short life in hospital. Joey is critically ill. Though there is no confirmed diagnosis for him, doctors suspect he has a very complex, life-threatening condition called Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, which can result heart conditions, various forms of cancer and kidney abnormalities.

• The condition is so rare that Joey will have to be transferred to the Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle in England for treatment, where he  will most likely have to remain for the foreseeable future.
• Joey’s father intends to travel with him to Newcastle for the first few weeks, but will have to return to Ireland for work. He will travel to Newcastle as often as time and finances allow.
• Joey’s mother and father also have two other young children to take care of.
• The medical bills, travel expenses, hospital accommodation, and usual bills at home are placing a strain on the family budget, and these expenses are only going to increase once they leave for Newcastle. 

Family No. 5: The Murray Family

Anna Murray, a five year old from Dublin, is currently a patient on the Cardiac Heart Centre at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Earlier this year, she was diagnosed with a myriad of health conditions, including a life limiting heart condition. Anna now requires a heart transplant and is on a transplant list with Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

• Anna’s mother, Rachel, has stopped working since learning her daughter’s diagnosis.
• Anna’s father, David, is currently working reduced hours so that he can care for his daughter.
• David and Rachel have previously experienced tragedy when their first daughter, Niamh, unfortunately died while awaiting heart transplant in Great Ormonde Street.
• Rachel and David only learned in February of this year, that Anna has the same cardiac condition which so tragicly ended their first daughter’s life 7 years previous.
• The grants offered by Cliona’s Foundation could significantly relinquish at least the financial anxieities surrounding their return to Great Ormonde Street Hospital.

Cliona’s Foundation was founded by Terry Ring and her husband Brendan, in honour of their daughter Cliona, who died in 2006 from an inoperable brain tumour at the age of 15. Speaking on the difficulties faced by a family with a child who has a life-limiting condition, Terry says:

“Unless you’ve been in the position of having a really sick child in your family you don’t know how quickly expenses can mount up.  We want to support families who are already going through the horrific trauma of dealing with a very ill child. They shouldn’t have to face dealing with money worries on top of that.” Terry Ring

Help Cliona’s Foundation provide financial aid to these families, and more like them, by donating today at www.clionasfoundation.ie