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Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Wexford toddler in heart failure awaits vital transplant – ‘we thought he had a cold'
"It was the end of March and we just thought he had a cold,' Kenneth explains. 'My wife Johanna brought him to the doctors on a Monday and he presented like he had a chest infection. He was prescribed antibiotics and sent home. "She wasn't happy with him the following day, and then on the Wednesday she brought him to CareDoc and again they said it was a chest infection and to keep an eye on it. "On Thursday, it seemed worse, so we brought him to the hospital. They thought he might have developed pneumonia, but when they did an x-ray on him, Alife's heart was enlarged. At that point they sent an ambulance from Crumlin Children's Hospital for him straight away.' What would emerge is that little Alfie was in heart failure, caused by viral myocarditis. He would spend three weeks on life support in Crumlin before eventually being airlifted to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for specialised cardiac treatment and surgery. "He's been fitted with a VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) which assists his heart in pumping blood to the rest of his body,' Kenneth explains. "The left hand-side of his heart has severe impairment and there's mild impairment to the right side of his heart.' The upshot of the situation is that Alfie will remain in Newcastle indefinitely while he awaits a life-saving heart transplant. "It's a heart transplant we're looking at unless he improves,' Kenneth confirms. 'We've been given just a ten per cent chance that he will improve himself, but you always hold onto the hope that you'll be in that ten per cent.' Braced for a wait of up to two years for a heart transplant, the whole ordeal has put a considerable strain on the family, Alfie already having two big sisters Eileen and Elizabeth, and another sibling on the way in September. Currently, Johanna and Kenneth are passing ships. Alfie's mam will fly out to Newcastle to be at his side from Monday to Thursday, while dad will take over from Thursday to Monday. 'It's not easy, with two other young children and another on the way,' Kenneth says. 'Looking at all the possibilities here, it's looking like we might have to bite the bullet and move over there. With two other kids in school and trying to sort out somewhere to live and everything, it's not easy. "At the moment, we're staying in a house attached to the hospital in Newcastle. But that wouldn't be an ideal place to bring a newborn baby in a few months time.' The local community has rallied behind the family as best they can. An online fundraiser to assist them with the costs of travelling over and back to Newcastle had raised nearly €10,000 in its first three days and Shelmaliers GAA Club, of which Kenneth is Vice Chair, have arranged a major fundraiser 'Hurling for Alfie' at their Hollymount home on Sunday, June 22. A family fun day, there'll be a festival of hurling, barbecue, strawberries and ice cream treats and GAA-rox from 9.30 a.m. "Everyone has just been top class,' Kenneth says. 'Part of you doesn't want to be asking for help, but people are just so good. People at the club have been amazing, just as they were with the fundraiser for my nephew Conor (Martin – Cairde Conor fundraiser). We're very lucky to be involved in the Shels and to be part of the community we're in. I was also involved in Kilmuckridge Drama and they also organised a fundraiser for us. We're so grateful.' As for Alfie, getting ready to celebrate his second birthday next month, he remains a happy-go-lucky toddler, mad about tractors, and making the best he can of things. "He's walking around with the VAD and everything and he only had open-heart surgery two weeks ago. He's up and about. It's just a waiting game now. Unfortunately, because of the blood thinners he's on, he's at a high risk of stroke and bleeding. "But look, everyone both here in Newcastle and in Crumlin has been brilliant with us. Unfortunately, Alfie was just unlucky. But the way we look at it, there are people in far worse positions. You just have to keep going.' You can donate to help Alfie and his family by searching for Alfie's Heart Journey on GoFundMe. All donations, big and small are gratefully received.
Irish Independent
14-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
Fundraiser for young Wexford boy in heart failure – ‘At first they thought it was just a chest infection'
"It was the end of March and we just thought he had a cold,' Kenneth explains. 'My wife Johanna brought him to the doctors on a Monday and he presented like he had a chest infection. He was prescribed antibiotics and sent home. "She wasn't happy with him the following day, and then on the Wednesday she brought him to CareDoc and again they said it was a chest infection and to keep an eye on it. "On Thursday, it seemed worse, so we brought him to the hospital. They thought he might have developed pneumonia, but when they did an x-ray on him, Alife's heart was enlarged. At that point they sent an ambulance from Crumlin Children's Hospital for him straight away.' What would emerge is that little Alfie was in heart failure, caused by viral myocarditis. He would spend three weeks on life support in Crumlin before eventually being airlifted to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for specialised cardiac treatment and surgery. "He's been fitted with a VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) which assists his heart in pumping blood to the rest of his body,' Kenneth explains. "The left hand-side of his heart has severe impairment and there's mild impairment to the right side of his heart.' The upshot of the situation is that Alfie will remain in Newcastle indefinitely while he awaits a life-saving heart transplant. "It's a heart transplant we're looking at unless he improves,' Kenneth confirms. 'We've been given just a ten per cent chance that he will improve himself, but you always hold onto the hope that you'll be in that ten per cent.' Braced for a wait of up to two years for a heart transplant, the whole ordeal has put a considerable strain on the family, Alfie already having two big sisters Eileen and Elizabeth, and another sibling on the way in September. Currently, Johanna and Kenneth are passing ships. Alfie's mam will fly out to Newcastle to be at his side from Monday to Thursday, while dad will take over from Thursday to Monday. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's not easy, with two other young children and another on the way,' Kenneth says. 'Looking at all the possibilities here, it's looking like we might have to bite the bullet and move over there. With two other kids in school and trying to sort out somewhere to live and everything, it's not easy. "At the moment, we're staying in a house attached to the hospital in Newcastle. But that wouldn't be an ideal place to bring a newborn baby in a few months time.' The local community has rallied behind the family as best they can. An online fundraiser to assist them with the costs of travelling over and back to Newcastle had raised nearly €10,000 in its first three days and Shelmaliers GAA Club, of which Kenneth is Vice Chair, have arranged a major fundraiser 'Hurling for Alfie' at their Hollymount home on Sunday, June 22. A family fun day, there'll be a festival of hurling, barbecue, strawberries and ice cream treats and GAA-rox from 9.30 a.m. "Everyone has just been top class,' Kenneth says. 'Part of you doesn't want to be asking for help, but people are just so good. People at the club have been amazing, just as they were with the fundraiser for my nephew Conor (Martin – Cairde Conor fundraiser). We're very lucky to be involved in the Shels and to be part of the community we're in. I was also involved in Kilmuckridge Drama and they also organised a fundraiser for us. We're so grateful.' As for Alfie, getting ready to celebrate his second birthday next month, he remains a happy-go-lucky toddler, mad about tractors, and making the best he can of things. "He's walking around with the VAD and everything and he only had open-heart surgery two weeks ago. He's up and about. It's just a waiting game now. Unfortunately, because of the blood thinners he's on, he's at a high risk of stroke and bleeding. "But look, everyone both here in Newcastle and in Crumlin has been brilliant with us. Unfortunately, Alfie was just unlucky. But the way we look at it, there are people in far worse positions. You just have to keep going.' Alfie's Heart Journey on GoFundMe. All donations, big and small are gratefully received.
