The family and friends of four-year-old Cian McDonnell Lynch have launched a fundraising initiative in an attempt to save the little boy's life.
Cian, from Carlanstown in Co. Meath, suffers from a very severe form of Dyskeratosis Congenita. The rare, progressive bone marrow failure syndrome affects one in a million people.
Little Cian is particularly badly affected. He went completely blind in March 2011, at the tender age of one, after an operation to try and save his sight proved unsuccessful. Shortly afterwards, Cian became very sick. His doctors soon discovered that his bone marrow was failing. The rarity of the condition meant it took a very long time for young Cian to even get a diagnosis, and his family found they were constantly in and out of hospital getting platelet and blood transfusions for a year, until his blood count hit rock bottom.
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In March 2013 Cian had a bone marrow transplant. In some long-awaited good news, this was successful. However, in January of this year Cian went to hospital, spending five weeks there until he was diagnosed with microscopic pulmonary avms. Doctors are not sure if this new problem is caused as a side effect of his bone marrow transplant or his underlying condition.
Her.ie reader Stella writes:
"His doctors recently gave his family the devastating news that Cian has only months to live but they are not giving up. His files have been sent to Great Ormond Street for review. If they do not agree to do a lung transplant the family are hoping to take Cian to Boston as they are not ruling him out completely for a lung transplant. A Facebook page Hope for Cian has been set up and a national campaign "get cracking for Cian" is in full swing . Basically the ice bucket challenge with eggs!! People can text Cian to 57802 to donate 2€. Any help or coverage of his page and campaign is so greatly appreciated.
This little boy deserves a chance at life."
Please follow Cian's story on Facebook
here and through the family's website
here. If you can spare €2, please text Cian to 57802 and ask your friends and family to do the same. Maybe this beautiful boy can be saved.
