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19 month old Jamie Murray needs your help.

Little Jamie Murray from Clondulane was born on November 3rd, 2011. At birth, he was diagnosed with alobar holoprosencephaly (HPE), a developmental condition categorised by a failure of the brain’s frontal lobe to separate into two distinct hemispheres. Things have not been easy since then for his parents, Helena (originally from the Conna area) and Mark from Cork. All of the hospital visits (in Dublin and Cork) and late nights and worry were manageable, until now. Now, they have met a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

Due to his condition, there are a number of specialist items Jamie requires just to live the happy, comfortable life that we all take for granted. The most pressing of these, currently, is a car seat.

Jamie has no head control due to weak muscles in his neck and shoulders. He is at a higher risk of whiplash than the average child, even without the usual requirement of a sudden stop. He is prone to seizures from a form of epilepsy associated with the HPE. He is at a risk of choking on his own saliva and secretions if his head isn’t in a good position. If his head and upper body aren’t adequately supported, Jamie’s breathing can be compromised. Over long distances, and without a suitable seat to fulfil his postural needs, Jamie’s comfort is seriously called into question.

There are significant financial costs to raising and caring for a child with Jamie’s special needs. Mark and Helena have already had to contend with the following extra expenses: adaptations to the house, transport costs (such as petrol and parking), accommodation costs incurred due to necessary and frequent appointments, childcare costs for Jamie’s brothers (Lucas and Jack) while Jamie is in hospital, and the many medication costs associated with HPE. The significant dent in income resulting from the unpredictability of Jamie’s healthcare needs has resulted in the family suffering severe financial stress.

This car seat is a burden too far for them. It is the proverbial straw to break the camel’s back. As a result, they have launched ‘Jamie Murray Appeal’, a fundraising effort to make the day-to-day costs of Jamie’s care more manageable. The first round of funds raised will go toward the specialist car seat required. Any additional funds will be put into the ‘Jamie Murray Appeal’ bank account, held at Fermoy Credit Union, and will be put toward his long-term care.

If you wish to make a donation, Jamie Murray Appeal holds an account at Fermoy Credit Union (account no. 23965-Z). Your support is greatly appreciated.

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