Richie was 14 and about to start third year when he became unwell.He love’s anything to do with soccer, telling jokes and being with his bulldog T-bone which he calls his brother.
Richie got up one Saturday morning and just felt sick and started vomiting, he stayed in bed all weekend not feeling well.On Monday morning Richie got up feeling fine so we thought it was just a stomach bug, Tuesday came and Richie felt unwell again and vomiting so we brought him to the local doctor who prescribed him with medication to settle his stomach and sent him home.A couple of days later Richie complained he had a blind spot in the middle of his eye so we got him over to Tallaght hospital.
On Richies second day in Tallaght hospital we were told they found a tumour and they where moving him to Temple Street immediately.Once in temple street Richie was given a MRI and from this they prepared him for surgery straight away to release a build up of fluid on the brain they seen in the scans.Three days later we where introduced to Richies oncologist who would be in charge of Richies treatment in Crumlin and that he has been diagnosed with a rare pineal gland tumour she went into detail about the treatment required and side effects,we where devastated and are still in shock today as we navigate Richie’s ongoing treatment.
Richie’s treatment would consist of chemotherapy, high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant and proton therapy we where told there was no facilities in Ireland for proton therapy so Richie would probably be going to Manchester, they didn’t go into too much detail about Manchester or when it would be as they had to see how Richie got on with chemotherapy.
All of September, October, November, December consisted of Richie going into St Johns ward Crumlin for a couple of weeks of chemotherapy then back home to recover then back in again for chemotherapy.It was the high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant that was the hardest on Richie because he was in hospital for a longer period in isolation with limited visitors and the treatment was harder on his body he was constantly sick and unable to drink or eat so he was put on a feeding tube which he found especially stressful and uncomfortable.
When Richie was in recovery from his last dose of chemotherapy we where told the proton centre in Manchester wants us over as soon as possible for scans and planning meetings and that Richie would be starting treatment in early January so everything had to be done before Christmas.We where giving a time to be at the Christie hospital in Manchester on the 21st of December and 22nd our heads where spinning Richie was still feeling unwell and we really didn’t think we would be going so close to Christmas we didn’t know where to start with organising anything this is when John and Jayne and the Gavin Glynn foundation stepped in.
Within hours of us finding out we had to go to Manchester we received a email from John and Jayne saying they had been given Richies information and would be delighted to help, not too long after another email with everything organised, flights, transfers accommodation, expenses and help to get us through Dublin airport with Richie so he wasn’t waiting around too long at security.They have no idea of the stress this took off us at that moment of time.
We got back home for Christmas and then had to get ready to go back over early January for 7 to 8 weeks, again John and Jayne organised everything, flights, transfers, expenses and a beautiful 2 bed apartment in the heart of Manchester that could sleep up to 6 people.Because of the size and location of the apartment it meant Richie’s older sisters could easily come over and visit him when they weren’t working, Richies sisters visiting him helped a lot and gave him something to look forward to every week.
With the Gavin Glynn foundation organising everything and taking the financial stress off us it meant Richies dad was able to take time off work to be with him juring this difficult time.It allowed us as Richies parents solely concentrate on him and making sure he was ok.The Proton treatment went well and Richie generally felt ok , with the apartment being in such a good location with everything close by it meant we could bring Richie out in the evening for dinner or to watch the football this helped break up the weeks .
With everything John and Jayne have done for us we don’t know how to express our gratitude, we are forever grateful for them and all involved in the Gavin Glynn Foundation for helping our family in our most difficult times.
I hope they know the difference there amazing Foundation is making to all the families they are helping.Thank You.
Richie is now doing well and is at the end of his treatment with weekly blood tests and a MRI scheduled for the end of April.
