Donnacha's Story

In January 2018 after extensive tests in Our Lady's Children's hospital in Crumlin Donnacha was diagnosed with a condition called portal vein hypertension and ascites, it is essentially a form of liver disease. It causes a number of complications including fluid build up in his abdomen, risk of internal bleeding and it leaves him very susceptible to infection. His condition was mainly managed by a number of medicines and for the first 12 months he was almost complication free.

In March 2019 Donnacha suffered his first major infection which was pneumonia and sepsis, he also suffered a bleed at this time. Returning to Crumlin every 3 months for scopes.

2020 was a big year for Donnacha he became a big brother to Iarlaith and also started national school, but it also came with alot of complications. He suffered with a number of gastrointestinal infections and needed six hospital admissions during the year, all of course during the coronavirus pandemic. 

During the summer of 2021 the medicines that Donnacha takes to control fluid in his abdomen stopped working. His next challenge came in the form of an infection called SBP ( spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) which left him in septic shock. Donnacha was very very sick at this time on the verge of goin into ICU, but with the help of  three different teams of doctors Donnacha improved and recovered well. We will forever be eternally grateful for the doctors and nurses both in Mayo General and Crumlin who helped us though this very frightening time. 

With that Donnacha was referred to King's College Hospital in London for surgery, the assessment was for a shunt surgery but upon further examinations we found out this surgery was not possible. 

On the 18th of January this year we were told the news that Donnacha will now need a liver transplant. It was news we weren't expecting or prepared for so it came as a big shock to us. 

Donnacha is a phenomenal little boy, he is only 6 years old but his strength and resilience knows no bounds and we are all incredibly proud of him. The road ahead is tough but we will do whatever it takes to give Donnacha a normal life. 

 

This page is being setup on behalf of Jason and Emma by Mary (Jason's aunt) and Linda (Emma's sister). Donnacha will soon go onto a donor list, there is also a possibility of Jason being a living donor but he will have to under go a rigorous assessment process to determine if he is a match or not. The estimated cost of expenses cannot be calculated at this time as there is alot of uncertainty with what lies ahead for the family. They have been told Donnacha will spend a minimum of 4 weeks in London post transplant. This page is being set up to help cover non- medical costs associated with being in London. As you can imagine it is a very daunting, stressful and overwhelming time for Jason and Emma. They have given setting up this page alot of careful thought and consideration as they a very aware that the world is a crazy place at the moment and want it to be known that any donation given will be massively appreciated. 

We will update this page as time goes on and Donnacha's journey continues. 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and again all donations will be hugely appreciated.