Documentary reveals Gavin’s brave battle with cancer and stroke

THE mother of a six-year-old boy battling leukaemia told how he suffered a life-threatening stroke during his chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

Emma O’Halloran revealed how her child, Gavin, suffered severe speech and mobility problems as a result of the stroke.

His devoted mum, from Glanmire in Co Cork, said: “I was just quite mad. You ask yourself: ‘Why this does happen to me?’

“He was diagnosed with leukaemia first and then we only had three and half weeks until he had the stroke just to even come to terms with the fact he had leukaemia.

“The stroke was a completely rare side effect to the chemotherapy drug. The stroke just blew like a bomb.

“We had no warning. He has damage everywhere, on the right and left side of his head.”

Just weeks after he was diagnosed a year ago, Gavin fell into a coma after suffering the stroke and spent two uncertain weeks in intensive care.

His mother broke down in tears in the two-part documentary Road to Rehab (tonight, RTÉ 1, 10.20pm) as she recalled how she said her final goodbye to her son while he was in the coma.

The series follows the stories of eight patients travelling the road of post-injury National Rehabilitation Centre.

The 50-year-old institution helps transform the lives of people rocked by illness and injury.

The documentary shows how his therapists have designed games to help develop his weak left side.

Consultant Paediatrician at the National Rehabilitation Centre, Dr Susan Finn, said Gavin is now facing another bout of chemotherapy.