It has been confirmed today that Lucy O’Connor, a nine-year-old girl currently being treated for cancer, has been granted a medical card.
Lucy’s case came to prominence when her mother Angela went public in January with the HSE’s decision to refuse to grant financial assistance to the family.
The case highlighted discrepancies in the health authority’s application process for discretionary medical cards and sparked a major backlash from the public.
Thankfully, there was good news today, with Angela confirming that the nine-year-old has now received a card.
“We hope no family, facing a diagnosis of cancer for their child, have to face the path of having little choice but to go public, at one of the most difficult times of their life,” she said.
“We take comfort that as a result of us going public with Lucy’s case, no child or adult will have to pay for a wig during treatment, this was due to us highlighting Lucy’s case in the media.”
She also thanked the public for their support, saying that the response has been “fantastic”.
“I have been blown away by so much support, the cards posted to the hospital from people I have never met, your kindness as an Irish nation knows no bounds. Thank you for supporting such a brave beautiful girl, who continues to fight Cancer today, she has a long road ahead, a battle no parent would choose for their child”
Thank you everyone for your support, today, Lucy received a medical card http://t.co/UbDNJk4Fsp #isupportlucy pic.twitter.com/5YCHUMqAoF
— Ange (@AngeCMJ) February 27, 2015
