A Donegal mum is appealing for support this Christmas to fund life-changing physiotherapy for her baby girl to learn to walk in 2022.
Claire Mc Daid from Drumkeen and her partner Jay welcomed their baby girl TJ into the world in October 2020.
T.J. was born with severe spina bifida meningocele, a common, permanently disabling birth defect.
Doctors said T.J. would have no quality of life, but Claire and Jay battled to give her the best possible start to life. T.J. has shown promising signs of movement, but will likely need surgery and intensive physiotherapy treatment to learn to walk.
TJ and her grandad Patsy McDaid
T.J.’s family has secured a place for her to travel to the Pető Institute, Budapest in July 2022. The costs of surgery and treatment are estimated at €100,000.
There has been an outpouring of support for an online fundraising campaign for baby T.J’s treatment. The total currently stands at €21,000.
Drumkeen United FC are kindly backing the fundraiser, while local woman Sylvia Linton has dedicated her garden Christmas display to raise funds for the cause. Sylvia’s home is lit for all to enjoy in exchange for donations to the bucket on site outside her house at F93WVR3.
Sylvia Linton’s house in Drumkeen
Visit the main fundraising page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/life-changing-treatment-for-t-j/
Anyone affected by Spina Bifida can find more information and support at: www.sbhi.ie