PLEASE HELP SAVE MÉABH

This is our beautiful daughter Méabh. Méabh was born in January 2 days before her big brothers birthday. She was born a perfectly healthy baby girl, and progressing in every way she should. Until a common cold virus hit our household.

Something as simple as this has become our worst nightmare overnight. At 7 and half weeks old Méabh wasnt her herself, i noticed that she was paler in colour and she was sleeping more than usual. As every mother knows, their instincts are always right. I then decided that Méabh needed to be checked.

Within a few hours of being at tallaght hospital, there was multiple tests and procedures performed on Méabh. The team then rushed us in an ambulance to our lady’s children hospital in crumlin, where we were met by a beautiful team ready to perform more tests on our little Méabh. With her test results they showed rapid decline in her blood work and organs such as her liver and spleen.

Her team were doing all they could, but still couldn’t figure out what was attacking her body. Méabh suddenly turned from worse to critical, she was rushed to the ICU where she was met with more machines and wires.

She needs constant monitoring around the clock, Including multiple blood transfusions as her liver is failing to produce what her body needs.

The next phase for Méabh was a bone marrow extraction, she was placed on a ventilator for this procedure and has been dependent on it ever since. Méabh has been receiving the best care from all around the world, but unfortunately this has lead to good news and bad news.

Méabh was diagnosed with a very rare condition called HLH syndrome. This genetic disorder affects Méabh’s ability to fight infections and viruses.

In simpler terms, when Méabh first caught the cold virus, her immune system turned on to fight the virus like anyone else’s. Because of the HLH syndrome Méabh had no ability to fight any type of infection or virus at all. Méabhs immune system is overworking now and unable to shut off, causing it to attack any healthy cells she has.

Méabhs team Have tried and are continuing to try everything to help her and keep her stable. She is currently undergoing a chemotherapy regime to shut her immune system off from producing anymore “useless” fighting cells as they cannot fight anything for her, they are just causing more damage. None of these measures will cure Méabh’s HLH syndrome.

the only cure for HLH syndrome is a bone marrow transplant.

This particular transplant for Méabh is not performed in Ireland. Our only option to save Méabh is to transport her to Newcastle in the UK. Méabhs recovery is going to be extremely long and vigorous after receiving the transplant. this means we will have to live in Newcastle for a number of months.

We are trying to raise funds so we can get Méabh to Newcastle and to support her while we are there.

The funds we hopefully recieve will cover medical expenses, accommodation , travel etc;

This process is definitely not easy and uncomfortable to share. no one prepares you in life for having a sick child,

But without sharing our story Méabh will not receive the life saving treatment that she needs.

Méabh is our beautiful miracle baby, she is a fighter and is doing her best to keep stable enough so we can get her to Newcastle. Please consider donating to Méabhs journey to recover. If you cannot donate pleases share our story as it will help massively to her and others.

We are deeply grateful for any support you can give. Any funds that are not used during Méabhs treatment or recovery will be donated to a family in need of the same assistance for their child.

Thank you xx