Little battler’s dad sets up help group for sick children

JASON LOGAN-MACKIN is very small for his age but he can always rely on his father to stand up for him and fight his corner.

The four-year-old, who still fits clothes made for children half his age, has a rare heart disorder and a serious lung condition.

The seriousness of Jason’s condition is brought home to his parents every night when they attach his stomach tube to a special feeding machine.

“He’s on medication three times a day and if we did not have a medical card we’d be living in a hut,” said Gearóid Mackin, a father of three from Dundalk, Co Louth.

“Jason is doing pretty good at the moment. He is small and gets upset when kids come up and remark about his size. He hates it and says: ‘Daddy, I’m not small am I?’ I tell him he’s not and he’s getting big.

“You have to keep reassuring him.”

The father of three decided to set up a local support group for parents of children with congenital heart defects, mainly because of his negative experience in dealing with the North Eastern Health Board.

The group is an offshoot of Heart Children Ireland, which provides support and information for around 700 families with children born with heart problems.

Gearóid recalled one particular occasion when they ran out of Jason’s feeding bags and discovered the health board had not ordered more.

“We had to travel to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and they gave us one bag to keep us going overnight,” he said. “They (the health board) are on the ball now because I threw a wobbler over it.”

Gearóid is particularly angry about his son’s medical card. Jason, who will soon undergo his third open heart operation, has to be reviewed for a medical card once a year and Gearóid has to produce wage slips.

“Jason and children like him should be given the card until a time comes when they no longer need it,” said Gearóid.

He is also angry parents have to fundraise for new equipment for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Dublin. “Huge advances are being made all the time in the treatment of children like Jason. What price do you put on a life?”