Temple Street Hospital ICU

Hi Guys, my name is Zac Minihan, I am just over three months old and I want to share with you the eventful few weeks I have just had.

You see a few weeks ago I suddenly became very ill and my Mammy and Daddy took me to Cork University Hospital as they were concerned about me.

I very quickly became the centre of attention there as it became apparent that I had contracted Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome which was very rare in someone as young as me. The infection attacked my kidneys shutting them down so I was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit in Temple Street Dublin. I got a cool spin in an Intensive Paediatric Acute Transport Service (IPATS) ambulance with my own team of four Doctors and Nurses who looked after me all the way to Dublin. There was no room in the ambulance for my Mammy or Daddy so they drove to Dublin and while on the way they learnt that, Leo my big brother was being admitted to CUH with the same symptoms. Leo is thirteen months older than me so while he was very sick he was able to fight the infection like big boys can.

When I arrived in Temple Street Mammy and Daddy were there and then the fun started! I was admitted to ICU where I got one to one care from what became my team of angels. I was placed on a ventilator and dialysis because my kidneys were not working. The next eleven days, were strange, I missed my cuddles as I had so many tubes I couldn’t be picked up. Mammy and Daddy were holding my hand and talking to me all the time so I knew they were there. I could hear the doctors talking and saying it could take three weeks before my kidneys would start to work again. Then one morning there was great excitement and the Nurses were clapping and dancing all because I produced 2mills of wee ahead of schedule! I knew then this was the escape plan, more wee and I am out of here.

Luckily my big brother got to go home after nine days and my auntie looked after him. After eleven days they woke me up and I was sleepy from all the drugs and sore from all the needles and tubes. I couldn’t take my bottle as my throat was sore after the ventilator so they left the feeding tube in my nose. I got to see my Mammy and Daddy and the many friendly faces who were looking after me and best of all I got to get my cuddles again. My throat got better after a few days and I was able to take some of my bottle.

I stayed in ICU for another five days before they moved me into a general ward. That was a great day because the Dubs were visiting with Sam. My ICU angels dressed me up as a pretend Dub and I got to sit in Sam! A picture that I am sure will come back to haunt me in the years ahead !

I am happy to be back home now after three weeks and got to see my big brother, our family is back together again. I want to say a very special thanks to the Doctors and Nurses who not only cared for me but also looked out for my Mammy and Daddy. I know I gave them lots to worry about, but every night my Mammy whispered a little story in my ear;

“This Storm is making me tired” said the boy.

“Storms get tired too” said the Horse

“so hold on”

My Mammy knows everything and just like in the story, my storm passed!

I will be going back to visit Temple Street for regular check-ups over the next few years so I will get to see everybody who looked after me. I am opening this ‘GoFundMe’ page in an effort to say a big Thank You to the ICU team and I am asking you to please make a donation to Temple Street ICU so other families can be supported like we were.

We never know what day we might need them but I know they are there when we do!

Love Zac