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Girl (4) undergoing chemotherapy 'taking it all in her stride', father says

The father of a four-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy has said his daughter is taking it all...
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

15.20 18 Jun 2021


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Girl (4) undergoing chemothera...

Girl (4) undergoing chemotherapy 'taking it all in her stride', father says

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

15.20 18 Jun 2021


Share this article


The father of a four-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy has said his daughter is taking it all in her stride.

Alannah Foley began treatment last month due to the growth of a tumour in her eye.

However she has to travel from her home in Killorglin, Co Kerry to Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin every week, due to the cyberattack on the HSE.

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Her parents had hoped she could undergo treatment at the closer Mercy Hospital in Cork.

But she could not be registered there due to the hacking of the health system.

Her father, Andrew Foley, told Pat Kenny it is a long process for them.

"This morning we were up for 4.30 and we were on the road for 5am, because we had to be up this morning for 9am into Crumlin - Alannah had to have an MRI this morning.

"So she's currently fasting since yesterday evening, but the MRI probably won't happen until the afternoon today because they're missing a part off the MRI machine - which is just making things a whole lot worse.

Alannah Foley Alannah Foley. Picture by: Facebook/Alannah and Polly's Fight for Sight

"But she's getting to see the eye specialist today, and she'll have the chemo today.

"And then whatever time she comes out of hospital we'll make our way back down to Kerry at our ease".

Andrew said although she missed her appointment last week, she is taking it all in her stride.

"She's taking it all in her stride, really - she missed chemo last week because she was sick.

"But the week before she came bouncing out of the hospital like there was nothing wrong with her at all.

"If it was yourself or myself we'd probably be feeling sorry for ourselves - but she's taking it all in her stride thankfully".

And Andrew said Alannah has had to deal with more than just the treatment.

"She was diagnosed officially with neurofibromatosis in 2019 in January.

"And then over the summer she started to [develop] - we call them speed wobbles.

"If she was standing there talking to you she could fall over, or if she's walking she'd fall over".

Alannah Foley Alannah Foley. Picture by: Facebook/Alannah and Polly's Fight for Sight

He said their doctor made an emergency appointment for her, where the tumour was discovered.

"They done a biopsy on the tumour, and thankfully it was benign.

"Then she had hydrocephalus as well caused by the tumour, so she had a VP shunt fitted.

"And we gave barely two weeks in Temple Street before she left home.

"It's just been up and down to Dublin, Crumlin and Temple Street, for check-ups ever since".

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help raise funds for the family.

Girl (4) undergoing chemotherapy 'taking it all in her stride', father says

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Main image: Alannah Foley. Picture by: Facebook/Alannah and Polly's Fight for Sight

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Alannah Foley Andrew Foley Chemotherapy Crumlin Children's Hospital Pat Kenny Temple Street Hospital Tumour

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