Brave teenager battling leukaemia gets surprise visit from 9/11 fireman
Niamh McNulty, given a bone marrow operation in June to beat her rare form of leukaemia, met Irish-American fireman Gerry O’Riordan when he dropped into Crumlin Children’s Hospital in Dublin with a €$10,000 (€7,200) gift for the burns unit.
Niamh’s mum Bernie was in the hospital corridor when she saw a group of NY fireman in the corridor and quickly recognised Gerry who is married to her Donegal town cousin Eimear.
Bernie, from Convoy, Co. Donegal, was with Niamh when she was in hospital last week for treatment for a blood virus.
Gerry was invited to meet Niamh, who was 17 last Monday, after doctors gave him rare permission to talk in her special unit. He had to wear a special hospital gown over his fireman’s uniform.
Bernie said: “Because of strict medical conditions following the operation Niamh is only allowed meet her immediate family, and when she is at home she cannot go out for several months more. Her form of cancer is so rare — it is called ALL + AML1 amplification — that there are only four people in Ireland with it. It is also very rare around the world.
“So it really was a treat for Niamh when Gerry was allowed to meet her.”
Gerry was with NY firemen presenting a cheque raised in the US to help the hospital burns unit.
The money was raised by a group helping worthy Irish causes in thanks for the support given by Irish firemen and policemen in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Niamh returned home on Saturday the day after Gerry’s visit, but is due back in hospital for further blood checks tomorrow. She cannot return to school until next March at the earliest and is confined to her house when she is at home.
Bernie said: “She has been doing great since the operation, brilliant. She’s a tough girl.”
Niamh has battled through pain since her illness was diagnosed in March 2005.
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