07/07/2023
A statement from Fiadh’s family
It’s been 3 months since we lost our precious Fiadh and we are truly heartbroken. She fought so hard to live and she endured the toughest of treatments. We miss Fiadh so much and every day we are reminded of what an amazing, brave, clever and fun-loving child she was. Páidí talks about her everyday and we all look at photos and videos of her with a huge smile and so many lovely memories of our darling girl.
We’d like to thank everyone who sent messages, prayed for Fiadh, sent lovely cards and supported us during her illness. Fiadh touched so many hearts while she battled childhood cancer and it’s so sad that she has been taken from us by this awful disease. We will always be so proud of our beautiful Fiadh. Thank you to everyone for helping us give her every chance to live.
We would like to update everyone on the situation regarding palliative care for children in the South East. Unfortunately, Fiadh did not get the care she was promised. We fought so hard to keep her at home - plans from the HSE to support Fiadh dying at home fell through three times and in the end a team from Dublin stepped in to care for Fiadh at home in Wexford. We were desperate, stressed and worried but are so thankful to Dr. Balding in Harold’s Cross Hospice, Dublin for taking clinical responsibility less than 48 hours before Fiadh took her last breath. We are very grateful for their support in caring for Fiadh at home. Dr. Balding and her team immediately put Fiadh on a pump to control her symptoms and she died less than 48 hours later. Fiadh should not have had to wait to receive palliative care input nor should a team from Dublin have had to provide palliative care for children in the South East.
We have been assured this will not happen to future families in the South East who find themselves in the unfortunate situation of needing palliative care for their children. We hope this is true and that real systemic changes are happening, as have been promised. We understand plans have been put in place in the South East to ensure this does not happen to another child. All children should have the option and right to die at home in the comfort of their small vibrant worlds. Let this progress be the legacy of Fiadh and those that have gone before her ❤️
On a nicer note, the remaining funds in the Future for Fiadh Trust account which were not used for Fiadh’s medical care abroad have been donated by the trustees, to children’s cancer charities as per the trust deeds. The funds will benefit children with cancer and their families and we are proud and grateful to be able to support them in their amazing work.
Thanks to the generosity of all of you, Fiadh’s followers, donations have been made to the following charities.
Aoibheann’s Pink Tie
St. Gabriels Ward, Wexford
The Gavin Glynn Foundation
Jack and Jill Foundation
LauraLynn
Make a Wish Ireland
The Ronald Mc Donald House
Crumlin Children’s Hospital
Childhood Cancer Ireland
Cian’s Kennels
Hope Centre, Enniscorthy
Faye O’ Neill’s Fight
Solving Kids Cancer
The Irish Cancer society
Oscar’s Kids
Cliona’s Foundation
Little Blue Heroes
Hand in Hand Children’s Cancer Charity
St. John’s Oncology Ward Garden, Crumlin
Music Therapy Dept, Crumlin
Today, the kind team at Scúp Gelato, Fiadh’s favourite ice-cream made in Wexford, treated all the children, parents and staff in St. John’s Oncology Ward, Crumlin Hospital to a ‘Scúp for Fiadh’. She would have loved an ice-cream party so it was such a lovely tribute to Fiadh. Thanks to Siobhan, Willie and the Devereux family for this lovely, generous gesture. There were lots of excited, happy children enjoying a well deserved ice-cream in the ward garden earlier.
Fiadh was loved by so many and we are so lucky to have had her in our lives. A piece of our hearts will always be with her in heaven.
Thank you,
Fiadh’s family
