Become a Mercy Hero this month
A video starring some of Cork’s bravest little heroes has been launched to raise funds to help mobile cancer nurses treat children at home.
The video introduces heroes Noah (3), Denis (4), Darragh (5), Alannah (5), and Calvin (4), who are all patients at MUH.
They are asking the people of Cork to join them and become a Mercy Hero on 21 October for Mercy Heroes 2022, a county-wide campaign to raise funds for services at MUH such as the Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service (POONS), and the Mercy Kids & Teens Appeal.
POONS has provided crucial support for some of Cork’s youngest patients and their families over the last number of years with 45 families using the service in 2021 alone.
The service, the only one of its kind in Ireland, allows children with cancer to receive vital treatment in the comfort of their own home, helping to cut back on hospital visits and provide support to families during such a difficult time.
One such family is that of Noah O’Gorman from Whitegate, who turned 3 last month. Noah is currently receiving treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) at MUH. He was diagnosed almost 12 months ago, on his second birthday.
Noah’s dad, Tristan O’Gorman, said: “For boys, the treatment cycle is quite long, and Noah’s treatment doesn't finish until February 2025. Having POONS drastically cuts down on the amount of travel in and out to hospital.
“As Noah is so young, he is more comfortable getting treated at home and it cuts down on the risk of exposure to more infections in the hospital.”
In 2021, the Mercy POONS nurses travelled 23,654 kilometres to provide 550 home visits to families. It costs the Mercy Hospital Foundation €30,000 each year to continue to keep this service mobile.
Olga Buckley, Paediatric Oncology/Haematology CNS at MUH said: “Being able to deliver a home-based option to sick children has helped enhance their quality of life and allowed for some normalisation of family life during cancer treatment.”
All are invited to participate in Mercy Heroes 2022 by donating online at mercyhospitalfoundation.ie, or by joining forces with friends, family or colleagues to host a coffee morning. Schools around Cork are also being encouraged to join in the fun by holding a Dress Up/Dress Down Day to support the young heroes.
Paschal McCarthy, CEO of the Mercy University Hospital Foundation emphasised how support for campaigns like Mercy Heroes can make such a difference in people’s lives.
He said: “For the past 9 years, the Mercy Hospital Foundation has proudly provided funding for POONS. We are continually reminded of the impact this service has on families, and why it is essential that we continue to fund and support these very special children and their families.”