'When it happens to a child so innocent, you feel helpless'

The mother of a Navan toddler who was diagnosed with Leukaemia while she was 37 weeks pregnant with her second baby has praised a respite centre they visit that makes them feel like a ‘normal family.’

Eimear Hardiman took her 16-month-old daughter Clodagh to the doctor with what she thought was just an eye infection.

Less than 24 hours later Eimear and her family’s lives were turned upside down as her daughter was rushed to Crumlin Children's Hospital where little Clodagh was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. 

“She was a really healthy child, she was never sick. She got an eye infection and I went to the doctor with her and she started a course of antibiotics. The infection didn’t clear up and I just thought that we needed stronger antibiotics. 

Recovering well.. Clodagh and little sister Teaghan Gordon.

“They ran some blood tests in Drogheda A&E and the doctors suspected she had leukaemia. I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time. They were worried that I was going to have the baby there and then because stress can bring on labour. They wouldn't let me leave the hospital until they checked the baby. 

“Shortly after that, we were rushed in an ambulance up to Crumlin Children's Hospital. Five nurses came into the room along with the doctor and a counsellor to tell us that Clodagh had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. Time just stopped for us at that moment. Overnight our world changed completely. We are not the same people now.”

What should have been a poignant day for the family who had moved home from Australia one year ago to the day ended up being a day they will never forget for all of the wrong reasons.

“My husband Cameron is Australian and that day was the one year anniversary of our move from Australia to Ireland. We could never have imagined where we would be one year later.

“Within 18 hours of her diagnosis, Clodagh had her first operation and chemotherapy treatment. She's also had weekly lumber puncture operations and more chemo sessions to come.  

Clodagh Gordon was diagnosed with Leukemia at 16 months old 
 “The medical team in Crumlin was amazing. The doctors even took Clodagh off chemotherapy so I could have my baby because obviously, my husband wanted to be with me for the birth.

The little girl, now three, is still undergoing a gruelling treatment plan. 

“When it happens to a child who is so innocent, you feel helpless. I wished that it was me and not her who got cancer but it was her and we had to deal with it. It has been tough with the side effects of chemo. She has been very sick and at the beginning lost a lot of weight. She didn't have much hair but it all went.  

 “Her development has totally stalled. When we went into Crumlin for the first six weeks she was in bed the whole time and she didn't know how to walk after that, she had to learn again. Her speech has also been curtailed.   

 “She is doing really well at the moment, we only have another few weeks of treatment to go. The tubes in her chest will come out soon and then we go back for regular check-ups. 
 “It has changed our lives, you see things differently. Things that used to bug you, don't bug you anymore. It's a different world but it's our normal now.” 

Eimear says that Daisy Lodge, a purpose-built therapeutic centre located in Newcastle Co Down offering respite for individuals and their families living with cancer has enabled them to enjoy family time again.

Proud mum Eimear with her brave girl, Clodagh (3)

“It’s in a gorgeous location at the bottom of the Mourne Mountains where you can avail of a wide range of therapies and classes. There is a nurse there if you need one at any time and you are with families that are in similar situations. We can just go away and don't worry about anything and can be a normal family. They are currently fundraising to build another respite centre in Mayo.”

The cost to build and operate Cancer Fund for Children’s therapeutic short break centre for three years is €14.5m. The Rory Foundation, the foundation of golfer Rory McIlroy has donated €1.2m to the project and the charity. 

To find out how you can support Cancer Fund for Children’s plans to build a new therapeutic short centre visit www.cancerfundforchildren.com