An anonymous person has come forward and offered to pay for the urgent surgery that is required to save the life of a young Kilkenny girl with severe scoliosis.
Jamie Murphy (11 ) of Graiguenamanagh has touched the lives of many but none more that that of the mystery benefactor who has committed to paying the possible €100,000 price tag that comes with the surgery she is due to receive in Great Ormonde Street Hospital in the UK on July 4.
Following a consultation last week at Great Ormonde Street Hospital, Jamie’s parents, Peter and Emer were informed that Jamie would require surgery within two months to prevent any further damage to her organs.
Jamie suffers from spina bifida and scoliosis and she is confined to a wheelchair. Her severely curved spine is compressing her heart, lungs and kidneys and she desperately needs life-saving surgery. This has been deemed impossible because of cutbacks in theatre space and bed space at Crumlin Children’s Hospital where she has been treated all of her life.
Green Party Deputy Leader Mary White TD has welcomed the news that a benefactor has agreed to pay Jamie Murphy's medical costs .
The Carlow/Kilkenny TD said she wants to acknowledge the generosity of a benefactor who has come forward on hearing of the plight of Jamie Murphy and her family.
“I received a telephone call informing me that this private individual wished to help the Murphy family out. This is an extraordinary act of generosity and it is based on a desire to help and an absolute desire to remain anonymous. I spoke to the benefactor who has allowed me to say that the benefactor is "an ordinary individual" simply moved by a little girl' who is in need of immediate surgery."
However Crumlin Hospital has not acknowledged the urgency of her surgery and has Jamie on a lengthy waiting list with other children in similar circumstances. Jamie’s family have said that they were informed that if Jamie didn’t have the surgery within six months she would not survive. But the hospital could not get a date for her surgery.
Jamie is to travel to London again prior to the operation on July 4 for tests. She will need special care following the procedure and will spend time in ICU.
Jamie’s family are said to be relieved to have a date set for the surgery and for the worry of the cost to be taken away from them at this point.
