Santa checks up on children recovering in Our Lady’s hospital

THE McMahon family from Clare had already received their best Christmas present ever when Santa called to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin yesterday.

Parents Monica and Pat McMahon from O’Brien’s Village had just discovered Siobhán, their four-year-old daughter, was going home days after undergoing a crucial kidney operation.

Pat said he had dreaded the three-hour operation on Monday but marvelled at Siobhán’s progress.

“It is some recovery. I have not seen Siobhán since Monday and I did not think we would be going home based on what I saw then. I can’t believe it,” he said.

Siobhán, who has two brothers Sean, 6, and Connor, 18 months, had half of her right kidney removed and a valve implanted in the other so they would function better.

Siobhán, who rarely complains of feeling unwell, was back running around 48 hours after the operation.

“All she wanted after the operation was her Jedward bar that I got from the shop,” said Monica.

Santa came down to the children from the top of the hospital’s five-storey medical tower using the lift.

Santa told Siobhán she had been a good girl and his elves were busy making her the jigsaws she wanted and putting the finishing touches to a Barbie car. She is also hoping for a watch-type clock for her bedroom wall and, maybe, a surprise.

Also watching Santa arrive was Frank Nugent from Navan, Co Meath, and his son Ronan, 10, who is recovering from reconstructive surgery to his right ear.

The youngest of three boys, Ronan has previously undergone surgery in the United States to correct a congenital heart problem.

Ronan, who will be home for Christmas, is hoping Santa is tech-savvy because he wants computer games and a Pokemon DVD.

Little Kiya Gavin from Ballyfermot, Dublin, who has congenital cataracts, is recovering from a kidney infection and her mother, Aisling, is not sure she will be home for Christmas.

Asked what Kiya, who is eight months old, and her older sister, Carly, 4, will be getting for Christmas, their mother replied: “Too much but they are worth it. All I want for Christmas is to have Kiya home again.”

Geraldine Regan, deputy chief executive and director of nursing at Our Lady’s, said they would have about 100 very ill children in the hospital over Christmas.

“We try to make the time children spend with us as festive as possible,” she said.

Picture: Siobhán McMahon, 4, from Killaloe, Co Clare, with Santa and Mrs Claus at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Santa told Siobhán his elves were hard at work finishing the jigsaws she wanted. Picture: Colin Keegan