Finbar

He started to feel unwell in October 2023. We noticed he had lost his appetite also had constipation and a little unbalanced on his feet. Then after the doctor visit he got a little worse vomiting and very lethargic and his walking was more off balance not eating or drinking.

Back to the doctor and sent to ED who put him on laxatives. His walking got worse he was sleeping even more and being sick never really complained as such. We had went 6 times to the doctor/ED in total last time on the 31st of October they did bloods all ok and said he has irritable hip maybe from a previous viral infection told us to give him neurophen to help ease the pain. We were told to give him two weeks to see if it improves.

This was hard to hear as it’s already going on 3 weeks it was so difficult to watch our happy little boy be a shell of himself but we took the advice giving, he was still in bed all the time sleeping and the odd vomit. We decided if no improvement over the weekend we will go on Monday to get a second opinion as it didn’t seem right with us to leave it go for 2 weeks but then on Sunday the 5th of November Finbar had what looked like a seizure now thought to be a hydrocephalus attack. Ambulance arrived and took us to Cavan hospital where a CT scan was done and we were informed there was a build-up of fluid on his brain we were rushed to Temple Street and an emergency EVD drip was inserted to relive the pressure on his brain.

Our world fell apart that day any parents worst nightmare we found out Finbar had a tumour on his brain which had spread to his spine and coated his brain. Everything was happening so fast. Finbar had surgery on the 8th of November to remove as much of the tumour as possible.

A couple of days later he had a VP shunt inserted. Finbar was diagnosed with medulloblastoma. After surgery he got posterior fossa syndrome it was heartbreaking to not be able to hear our boy speak all we could do was stay positive and talk to him and reassure him we are here and try to comfort him anyway we could. He said his “first” word 5/6 weeks later felt a lot longer but it’s definitely up there with one of the best days to hear his voice again as we didn’t know what to expect questioning will we ever hear him again. We are hopeful he will soon with physio be able to walk again

can’t wait to see that day. He is a little warrior and amazes us every day. Gives us the strength to keep going.

Finn was just 3 at the time of diagnosis and with radiotherapy and the risks of long term side effects it was recommended to do the high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue first to give his brain a little more time to develop before radiotherapy. There were some really hard times along the way but he has such determination and bounced back each time.

We got talking to John and Jayne of The Gavin Glynn Foundation. They are absolutely amazing we feel blessed to have them help us. They are definitely heroes too! They have helped with so much for both trips to Manchester its given us such relief and less to worry about.

To be able to have the whole family here means so much to Finbar and to us to be all here together, we honestly could not thank you all enough for making this possible for us and easing the stress and worry planning and booking the ferry and accommodation and living expenses.

Checking in to see how we are getting on. Such a caring and supportive Foundation that go above and beyond. We will be forever grateful to The Gavin Glynn Foundation.

Finbar has 19 out of 30 treatments done, and is doing great

The team over here are amazing too Finbar looks to go to the doctors playroom at proton beam therapy even at the weekends!