A heartbroken mother who was ‘Carer of the Year’ has called on President Michael D Higgins to help get her son a vital operation.
Donegal woman Liz Hanlon was named Donegal Carer of the Year in 2016 and met Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain.
The president spoke with Liz and commended her for dedicating her life to her son Jason who was born with health complications.
But despite being in a wheelchair he has always been a happy and contented young man, according to his family.
However, in recent years Jason, now aged 26, has developed scoliosis and is now in constant pain.
Jason, from Doochary, is on a list for a vital operation to fix the curvature of his spine at Tallaght Hospital.
But that operation has now been put back on two occasions.
Liz has tried to contact Health Minister Simon Harris as well as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to highlight her son’s plight but to no avail.
Now she is pinning her hopes on President Michael D Higgins.
Liz said she would give her Carer of the Year Award back straight away if it meant her son getting his operation.
She said “We had a lovely day meeting President Higgins and he was very understanding to Jason’s situation. It was great meeting him and he spoke about Donegal and how he loved there.
“He commended us for looking after Jason and it was lovely to get such compliments even though we would never look for them because Jason is our life.
“But I think back on that day and think to where we are now and how Jason has basically been forgotten about. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
Liz said she is now planning to contact the President’s office in a bid to see if Michael D can do anything for her son.
“I’m hoping he may remember us and I’m hoping he can do something for us. He was a very understanding man and I simply want to show him how an operation would change Jason’s life forever.
“He is still in so much pain and every day it is getting worse. We really need to get somebody to make a decision on this for us before it is too late for Jason. He cannot face another winter going through this pain,” she said.
Jason is cared for by his loving family including sister Aine and brother Adrian, a former Donegal GAA star.
Aine said she will never give up on her brother and his quest for his operation.
She posted on Facebook “I cannot express how upset, angry and disheartened me and my family are. How anyone could neglect this little face is beyond me. I feel physically sick that my brother is just left to suffer in excruciating pain, and basically left to die, left to rot.
“I will continue to fight for Jason until every little piece of me is broken, however, fortunately I have an incredible family of 11 therefore we will never be tired. We have a strong mother who won ‘Carer of the Year’ and a father who would fight the world for his children, and not to forget 8 other children who is willing to go to the end of the earth to find some answers! There will never come a day that we will just give up on Jason, so again.
“Time is ticking and we need answers ASAP! We cannot afford to wait any longer. The fact that I even have to write this status yet again makes my blood boil, why would anyone need to fight for survival is beyond me.
“Especially someone who can’t even ask for help himself, luckily his family have a good loud voice. We have never asked for anything for Jason before, we have never once bothered anyone. But now, we need your help!
“It is simple, this boy needs surgery and he needs it now! I beg the health system to get in contact with my family and give us a date. If anything happens to Jason, the health system will be accountable, I demand answers.”
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