Posted online: Feb 25th, 2010

By Sinéad Flanagan
Editor

THE AUNT of a young boy diagnosed with leukaemia is working hard to raise funds to make his dream of a trip to Disneyland come true.
Cormac Doyle from Kildare town was told initially he had an infection in his leg last September, after he found himself unable to walk one day while out playing at his home. When mum Serena took him to Crumlin hospital, he was put on a course of antibiotics. However, after almost six weeks, doctors realised there was something further wrong and so began to run tests.
A short while later the family was told that little Cormac actually had leukaemia and had to be begin treatment straightaway to prevent it from spreading to his spine. Since then, Cormac has been in and out of hospital.
Getting chemotherapy since then, Cormac is set to get his first hour long session of it this week, which is to continue for a number of weeks. The sessions will mean Cormac will lose his hair over the next few weeks, his mum says. The little fighter was brought into hospital last week, after getting an infection so his family hope he will be well enough to get treatment this week.
With an older brother, six-year-old Adam and one-year-old Scott, mum Serena is working around the clock to ensure Cormac gets the care he needs.
Serena says however, that she is trying to keep life as normal as possible for Cormac and has learned to administer much of his daily medicine to him. Because he has to wear a “duck mask” when in public for fear of infection”, Serena says his school in The Curragh, sent letters to parents “asking them to keep their child at home if they are sick so as to help Cormac because his immune system is so low.” A move which she says she is very thankful for.
Cormac’s aunt Linda has been working hard to raise funds for the trip of a lifetime for her nephew for the past number of weeks. Having held two fundraisers in Larkins and Connelly Mezz, Linda is due to hold an event in An Goban Saor on 27th March ’10. Linda says the support has been “really good” to date. With lots of local businesses having donated spot prizes, Linda will be hosting a head shave and wax, raffle and auction on the night. “I also have a pool cue donated from Ken Doherty, a signed photo of Johnny Murtagh (jockey), Johnny Murtagh trousers and if we could get someone to frame them for us, that would be brilliant.”
To donate to the cause the details are: BOI 90-11-67 A/C no. 42194894.