Dublin tot heading to Boston for live-saving op

A Dublin toddler and his parents will be flown to the US today for life-saving treatment.

Sergio O'Connor, from Donnycarney, was born with a disorder which prevents him from eating drinking, or swallowing.

The one-year-old will leave his twin brother Tadhg at home to travel to the Boston Children's hospital to be treated for the rare but severe condition, which has left him with an incomplete oesophagus.

Doctors had hoped the gap between the two ends of his oesophagus would get smaller but, unfortunately, this did not happen.

The procedure to repair Sergio’s oesophagus will involve him being induced into a coma for three to six weeks.

The complex series of operations will be performed by Dr John Foker at the Oesophageal Advanced Centre in Boston, who described Sergio as an ideal candidate.

Sergio’s father Donal, who works in rehabilitation at the Central Remedial Clinic, in Clontarf, Dublin, will stay in Boston for up to six months until Sergio is well enough to go home.

Once Sergio is on the mend, his Spanish-born mother, Rosa, will return to Dublin to look after Tadhg.

The HSE has sanctioned the treatment, which is not available in Ireland, but has not met the full cost of the procedure.

Sergio’s parents must raise €100,000 as part of the agreement between the HSE, Our Lady’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and the VHI.

As well as the contribution towards Sergio’s medical costs, Donal and Rosa will have to cover the cost of their living expenses while in Boston.

Donal explained that Sergio’s condition was spotted before he was born during a routine scan. "He did not have a stomach bubble so we knew there would be complications at birth," he said.

"Unfortunately, Sergio has a number of other medical complications but the one preventing him going home is the oesophageal problem."

Donal and his wider family are well-known traditional Irish musicians and the traditional musical community across the country has been helping the Sergio Appeal with concerts and other fundraising events.

This story courtesy of the Irish Examiner