WAITING LIST PAIN
‘Time rapidly running out’ for desperate mum’s little Noah, 7, as scoliosis surgery axed for third time this year
The mum is trying to explore all other options for Noah
A MUM told a hospital her lad’s “time is rapidly running out” — only for them to cancel his scoliosis surgery.
It’s the third time this year that Noah Quish’s op was called off.
3
3
Seven-year-old Noah, from Monaleen in Co Limerick, has very complex health conditions.
His ribcage is squeezing his lungs because of a “massive curve” growing on his spine, which was first diagnosed five years ago.
Noah — who is non-verbal and is fed via a tube inserted in his abdomen — was also born with a number of other serious issues.
Mum Una Quish said Noah’s surgery was called off this year as his surgeon was not available.
It was also cancelled three times last year when he was too ill.
Noah also underwent six brain surgeries between last July and December last year after he contracted meningitis when a ventriculoperitoneal shunt inserted in his head to drain fluid from his brain became infected.
The boy recovered from the serious infection, but on March 1 this year, Ms Quish shared how her son was still waiting for a date for scoliosis surgery.
In an email sent to Crumlin Children’s Hospital on March 4, Ms Quish said he was “in pain”, adding: “We feel that time is rapidly running out for Noah and he needs his spinal surgery now.”
Most read in The Irish Sun
The email stated that, due to Noah's complex health conditions, "a neurosurgeon should be physically present" at his scoliosis surgery.
Mum's plea as daughter, 18, who suffers from both hip dysplasia & scoliosis left in limbo by cancelled operations
Ms Quish asked the hospital if a neurosurgeon would be present whenever Noah would receive his scoliosis surgery, but said she did not receive a specific reply.
She also asked Crumlin "how frequently and who from the neurosurgical team will monitor and assess Noah post-operatively as an inpatient in the days weeks after he is admitted following his scoliosis surgery".
Ms Quish also asked in the email for her son's latest Cobb angle (degree of curvature), and enquired if "plastic surgery would be needed for Noah's wound closure, given the extent of his curvature".
"It is some time since Noah's pre-operative assessment was conducted. Please advise if this is to be redone to have a more up-to-date medical overview of Noah," the email stated.
Our Kids Can't Wait Campaign
WAITING lists in Ireland have long been a national disgrace.
More than 106,000 children are on hospital waiting lists for all treatments. However, a new source of shame has emerged as 327 children wait for life changing spinal surgeries.
Their conditions are getting worse while they languish on waiting lists.
Such are the delays, many child patients will be outside the therapeutic window when their treatments are approved.
Earlier this month, the Seanad heard how at least one child has become permanently paralysed since the issue was raised publicly before Christmas.
Their plight has been spearheaded by campaigning Senator Tom Clonan, who himself has a child with a disability.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has even admitted that the health service is failing these kids.
Children are being allowed to deteriorate due to mismanagement, which has allowed the waiting lists to grow.
The Irish Sun’s Kids Can’t Wait campaign aims to shine a light on how the State is failing sick children and give their families a voice.
It will also force the Government to do something to clear the backlog of operations and give these children a chance of living a normal life.
On March 6 they told her his surgery was scheduled for March 13.
But a day later they got back in touch to say it was cancelled and that she could discuss any concerns she might have had about her son's surgery during an outpatient's appointment - which she still has no date for.
She said: "Crumlin said it sounded like we had a lot of concerns and the surgeon reckoned that it would be better if we all had a chat before it went ahead with the surgery, they never mentioned the neurosurgeon."
However, Ms Quish said she never asked for her son's surgery to be cancelled and she was adamant that Noah, who is one of hundreds of kids waiting years for scoliosis surgery, was ready to have his operation on March 13.
The mum explained: “I had everything prepared, we were so ready. Noah is now suffering, things are getting worse and he needs this surgery.
"His knees are swollen, he actually has bursitis (inflammation) of the knees, and it's all because of his spine."
Ms Quish said she and her husband, John-Joe, are now considering traveling abroad for Noah's surgery, but this is a major commitment that is beyond most families as there is lengthy post operative care associated with scoliosis surgery for children with other complex health conditions.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Noah’s story comes after The Irish Sun launched its Kids Can’t Wait campaign aimed at cutting shameful wait list times.
CHI didn’t respond for comment.
3
Topics