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28th March 2017 • Volume 24, Issue 10 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. K67 P5W4. • Tel: 01 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
Local Teen Left In Limbo North County Leader has learned of a local teenager who is awaiting surgery for scoliosis.
By Leslie Murphy Swords resident, Tara Allen’s fourteen year old daughter who is suffering with scoliosis is badly in need of major corrective surgery, but has been on a waiting list for the past two years. Tara told the County Leader, “My daughter has scoliosis and has been suffering with severe pain for two years now and I have had to watch her helplessly. When I couldn’t cope with the waiting list for MRI anymore I decided to get the money together, what ever way possible to get the MRI privately. It was lucky we did get it as because of that they discovered a lot of fluid on her spinal cord and now she has to have an operation called ‘Foreman Magnum Decompression’ before the scoliosis operation.” Tara continued, “We are now facing lists again, not for one but two operations and no amount of pain relief
helps her. While I appreciate Minister Harris is aware of Pictured at St. Sylvester's GAA Club Malahide are transition year students, from left, Luke Muldoon, Alex Doyle, Mark these issues the question is how long will it take to be Reid and Jack Byrne. The boys ran a quiz as a part of their fund-raising for their trip to Romania with Habitat for Humanity. addressed? Children should be screened for scoliosis in See story on page 3 primary school to try to catch it before the suffering starts. I know not all scoliosis sufferers are teenagers but there is a high percentage who are and this screening could for structural reform of the health services as ‘a smoke- weeks go by it is becoming more clear that Minister prevent a lot of suffering for these poor children,” she screen’. This was after the Future of Healthcare Harris is completely out of his depth. The Children’s Committee meeting recently. Ombudsman has said that the government’s failure to concluded. the issue of access to Local TD, Louise O’Reilly (SF), the party’s Health Deputy O’Reilly told the County Leader, “As the days and address scoliosis treatment for children is impacting those chilspokesperson, has accused dren’s right to the highest attainable standard of health.” Minister for Health, Simon O’Reilly continued, “Children are being left too long Harris of failing to meet the waiting on these operations and it’s adding complicaneeds of patients after it At the time of going to press unfortunately there is still no word on tions to their surgeries. If they were detected in time, a was revealed that cancer the location of Oldtown hero Ciaran Smith. There was a breakbrace could be applied and they would recover much operations are being through over the weekend when the body of Captain Mark Duffy faster. Our hospitals and services are all but crumbling cancelled in significant was recovered. But for the family, loved ones and people from all due to lack of capacity, lack of staff, lack of investment. numbers as a result of overover the North County, they are all waiting patiently for some news. Minister Harris talks tough but is clearly out of his depth crowded hospitals and it is It’s great news for the friends and family of Captain Mark Duffy that Ciaran Smith and lacking in vision to fix our broken health services.” not just cancer patients his remains have been found. The bad weather continues to hamper who have been effected but the search, Winchman Ciaran Smith and winch operator Paul Ormsby. scoliosis patients too. Attempts will be made (today, Monday) to place airbags underneath sections of the O’Reilly recently described helicopter in an attempt to lift the wreckage from the seabed to ascertain whether the health minister’s either Ciarán or Paul are trapped beneath ther wreckage. The black box was recovered proposed eight-point-plan at the weekend and has been sent to the UK for testing.
Wait Continues For Local Hero
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Daffodil day is always a key fundraising event for the Irish Cancer Society. However this year it is especially important for Rush residents. One year ago, on the day before Daffodil day, Rush lost its brightest flower to cancer and this year the efforts to raise money for cancer research have been nothing short of exceptional. The late Michelle Herbert was a tireless worker and was described as ‘the driving force’ behind the Rush Daffodil Committee. Having started the Daffodil garden at Rush library three years ago Michelle’s garden looked brighter than ever this year and will continue to feature as a key point in the towns remembrance each year. This year Rush residents contributed to a street market where people arrived bright and early on Friday morning to buy, sell and work to raise money for the charity. The sunshine was glorious and this helped to give that spring feel to the festivities. Following this North County Leader visited Martin’s Shop where the annual coffee morning
By Shauna Carson was being held. The support and donations of cakes from locals was astounding to say the least. The coffee morning went down a treat and helped to raise key funding for the Irish Cancer Society. Being a keen runner the late Michelle
The evening was a hit with some coming to run the full eight km and others coming to walk the circuit instead. Nevertheless the turn out couldn’t have been more supportive and the organiser, Mandy McElerne and all involved where heartened to see the local communities support in honour of the late Michelle. Finishing off the weekends charity events in Rush the annual sponsored walk began and finished at Rush Sailing Club, the chirpy walk was filled with bright smiles of support from its participants and everyone
Pictured at the Tea and Cake Reception that followed the Sponsored Walk on Sunday were Maria Hand, Lucy Hand, Maraid Monks, Trish Conway, Kelly Belfe, Jene Bordman, Francis Byrne, Maisie O'Dowd, Dervla Moore, Nial Gossin and Geraldine Reddin.
Herbert was a member of the ‘Rush Runners’ running club and in honour of this they held a mother and daughters run from the harbour park.
was invited back to the sailing club for tea and sandwiches afterward. The whole day was a great success in honour of a great lady’s memory.
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