More than 1,000 people take to streets of Dublin for Harvey Morrison
Gillian Sherratt and Stephen Morrison during the Justice for Harvey March (Gareth Chaney/PA)
More than one thousand people marched through the streets of Dublin to call for justice for a young child who died after dealing with long delays for scoliosis surgery.
Nine-year-old Harvey Morrison, who had scoliosis and spina bifida, died on July 29.
His parents, Stephen Morrison and Gillian Sherratt, said their son waited for years for spinal surgery, during which time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130 degrees.
By the time Harvey received spinal surgery last December, the curve had reached the point where it could not be fully corrected.
The curve caused his rib cage to twist around his lungs and heart, severely restricting his breathing.
His parents, opposition politicians and campaigners have called for the Tanaiste and former minister for health, Simon Harris, to step down, after he pledged in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis treatment.
Speaking at the Justice for Harvey rally in Dublin, Ms Sherratt said that her son was forced to spend the majority of his life waiting for treatment.
âHarveyâs painfully short life was very much a rollercoaster. There were a lot of low times but the highs were what kept us going,â she told the large crowd at Custom House.
âWe often called Harvey our easy child, as despite how complex he was, he was also just so laid back and took everything on the chin.
âHarvey spent the majority of life waiting. He was made to wait for everything but he asked for nothing.
âAll he wanted was his iPad, his Hunky Dorys, the odd lollipop and timely access to healthcare.
âTo us, that seems like so little to ask. We could provide him with most things. We could ensure that almost all his needs were met, but we unfortunately didnât control all aspects of his healthcare.
âDespite doing everything we could, despite begging for help, we didnât have the final say.
âCHI (Childrenâs Health Ireland) has not only failed to met their basic needs, but they appear to he protecting those that indirectly or directly caused harm.
âHarvey was nine. He waited 33 months for scoliosis surgery and, in that time the curve in his spine went from 75 degrees to 130. He had to have his whole life put on hold while he waited.
âWe cancelled family holidays, cancelled our wedding, postponed his sisterâs heart surgery as he sat and waited for a date for surgery.
âWe had to watch him deteriorate, cry in pain, struggle to breathe and lose the sparkle in his eye over those 33 months.
âMost importantly it robbed him of his childhood, it robbed him of his comfort, robbed him of quality of life and robbed us of the opportunity to make precious family memories with him.
âThat is something we will never get over. This is why we will continue to advocate.
âWhat we have been through, what Harvey has lived through, is soul-destroying. We will keep pushing in hope that no family will have to face what we did.
âThis is something we vow to continue in his death.â
Among those attending Saturdayâs march was People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Senator Tom Clonan.
All three addressed the crowd.
Mr Morrison thanked the demonstrators.
âWe would like to say a massive thank you for everyoneâs support over the last few weeks. The level of support has been absolutely overwhelming,â he said.
âWe are here to call for justice for Harvey and all the other kids continuing to be failed by Childrenâs Health Ireland (CHI) and the state.
âHarvey was our first child. He is the one that made us parents, he made us a family and he made us into the people we are today.
âHe showed us how to be brave, how to be patient, courageous and kind. Today we hope we make him proud.â
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