Special surgery to make Darragh’s dream come true

LITTLE Darragh Ryan from Limerick has a big goal.

Darragh, aged nine, wants to kick a football someday soon.

Darragh from Lansdowne Park has never walked as he has suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy since birth.

But now a revolutionary surgery has opened up new horizons for Darragh and could enable him park his wheelchair and walk unaided.

A number of Irish children have already benefited from the microsurgery on offer at Clinica Teknon in Barcelona.

Dr Luis Terricabras has pioneered the procedure which involves the lengthening of tendon and leg muscles.

A major fundraising drive is under way to pay for Darragh to have the operation in Barcelona.

The operation will cost e10,000 and follow up visits to the clinic will add a further e5,000 to the treatment costs.

Darragh is a student at St Gabriel’s special needs school in Dooradoyle.

His father Sean said: “Like so many parents with special needs children, we have struggled to provide the best for our boy over the years.

“We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the people who have contributed to the fund and for their concern we wish to thank them very sincerely.”

A bank account, which is independently administered under the Darragh Ryan Benefit Fund, has been set up at AIB, 106/108 O’Connell Street, Limerick. The sort code is 93 52 47 and the account number is 260222053.

Sean said: “Everybody who meets him [Darragh] can see straight away what a good nature boy he is and this shines through his disability.

“His hope is to kick a football with his sister Eimear, aged 13, when he has had the surgery.”