Maedhbh stable after liver transplant in London
The call for 14-year-old Meadhbh, whose condition has deteriorated in recent weeks, came to her Co Leitrim home shortly before 10pm on Wednesday.
She underwent lengthy surgery in London yesterday and is in a stable condition in intensive care.
Meadhbh had already taken her night medicines and was ready for bed when the call came on Wednesday night.
It was the second time the call had come and the family was determined that everything would go smoothly.
In July, a series of bungled communications in the health system meant the family had to get out of a helicopter in Sligo because the flight would not have made it to London in time for the operation.
Meadhbh has been on the King’s College priority list for over 15 months, and had become the longest-waiting patient on the list.
Joe said last night: “We were in the car in minutes and I drove with Meadhbh and her mum, Assumpta, while we were given an escort by gardaí.
“We were a bit frightened. Of course we were. We kept thinking all along: ‘What could go wrong with transport now?’
“Then the Air Corps Lear jet lifted off the runway at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel — that’s the first time we felt we really were on our way this time.”
They landed in Heathrow at 12.45am, arriving by ambulance at King’s College Hospital 45 minutes later.
The operation began at 7am yesterday, with the family told the surgery could take between five and eight hours. It took about 13.
Joe was cautiously optimistic last night.
“At least it will give Meadhbh a quality of life that she hasn’t had for a number of years. Hopefully it will give her that and she will enjoy what’s left of her teens.”
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