Little Lorcan in life-saving funds plea

FIVE-YEAR-OLD Lorcan McNamara is one of hundreds of children whose chances of surviving open heart surgery could be maximised with a machine that is available in other countries — but not in Ireland.

Lorcan was born with a congenital heart defect and has already undergone vital heart surgery twice during his short life.

Although fit and well, he needs a crucial circulation by-pass operation to ease the pressure on his heart.

About half of all babies born with congenital heart defects like Lorcan will require surgery.

If children who undergo heart surgery develop a problem coming off the heart and lung by-pass machine there is no intermediary machine to take over in Ireland.

More than 300 heart operations are performed annually in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

Lorcan’s mother, Dympna Donnelly, who is also chairperson of Heart Children Ireland, yesterday launched a campaign to raise the €200,000 needed to purchase an ECMO (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) machine for the hospital.

“As parents, know the extreme stress of having a son or daughter undergo heart surgery. So it is important that we know the most up to date technology is available to our son or daughter to maximise their chances of survival,” said Ms Donnelly.

Ms Donnelly explained the ECMO machine can act as an artificial heart and lungs for up to several weeks, allowing the child’s organs vital recuperation time after major surgery.

It can also be used on a child awaiting a heart transplant. By taking pressure off the heart and lungs the machine can prolong the time the child remains well enough to survive the operation.

Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin is the national centre for paediatric cardiology and the only hospital in Ireland that carries out surgery on children born with heart defects.

Mr Mark Redmond, cardio-thoracic surgeon in Crumlin Hospital said it was imperative the hospital has a ECMO machine available when operating on children with congenital heart defect.

“If the need for an ECMO is anticipated, the stress on the child’s family is increased by having to travel to Britain for the operation,” he explained. Emergencies, of course, particularly on new-born babies, can not be anticipated.

Ms Donnelly said the State had not refused to come up with the money for the machine but, with so many young lives at stake, they were not prepared to wait around wondering when the funding would come through.

“The technology is available in four different centres in Britain and it is saving lives there,” said Ms Donnelly.

Heart Children Ireland volunteers will be selling red windmills nationally on Friday February 14 and Saturday February 15 next to raise funds to purchase the heart machine.

More information is available on the Heart Children Ireland website: www.heartchildren.ie.