Footballers tog out to help hospital

From the Kildare Nationalist August 2010

By: Noel O’Driscoll

“THEY call him the miracle baby”. Mother, Bernadette Prendergast from Kildangan, was describing her three-year-old son Ned who was born with a rare chromosomal disorder.

Ned has been under the care of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children since he was born and as a thank-you Bernadette and her husband Declan are organising a charity football match this Saturday 28 August, featuring a host of big names.

The match will take place at Kildangan GAA pitch at 3pm and Glen Ryan will manage a Kildare side featuring players such as Syl Merrins, Willie McCreery, Johnny McDonald, Spike Nolan, Christy Byrne, Noel Donlon and Sos Dowling.

Sean Boylan, ex Meath manager will manage the inter-county side in which there will be a player from every county. Most of the players are just dads who have kindly volunteered to play.

Bernadette explained why she and Declan, along with their friends Jim and Esther Hyland, decided to hold the charity fundraiser.

“Just over three years ago we had a beautiful baby boy called Ned who was born with a very rare chromosomal disorder. He is the only one known in Europe to have been born with this condition. We almost lost him several times and we said our goodbyes many times. If it were not for the wonderful people of Our Lady’s Hospital for sick children, Crumlin, Ned would not be with us today and now we want to give a little back.

“We got together with Jim and Esther Hyland and we organised this charity football match. Ned is the great-grandson of Squires Gannon who was the first recipient of the Sam Maguire cup,” said Bernadette.

Ned has three older siblings, Norah Jane who is 12, Michael John who is 10 and Conor who is five.

Bernadette says that Ned’s problems are mainly in the bowel and kidney. “He has been in the care of the nephrology unit in Crumlin. He had major surgery last March and he has been doing much better since. They call him a miracle baby in Crumlin and they can’t get over how well he has come through all his operations. He is having a kidney scan on 3 September and he will be having surgery on his hip in the autumn.

“The chromosome disorder is so rare that doctors can’t tell us what the prognosis is, they just don’t know. We are living from day to day and we are just happy for each day we have with Ned.”

At the moment Ned is doing very well. “He has coped with C Difficile and septicemia but he is a little fighter. When we get sick our bodies shut down and we store liquids for nutrients to keep us going. However Ned doesn’t do that and we have ended up at A&E because he gets dehydrated. Despite all this he is the happiest little baby, a godsend.”

Jim and Esther Hyland are helping the Prendergasts with the fundraiser. “Jim and Esther had a child of their own in the oncology ward and they held a fundraiser last year for that unit. They have come on board with us this year and we are fundraising for the nephrology unit this time. John Kelly, ‘Ireland’s Most dedicated GAA fan’ will be in attendance and the public will be able to take penalties against former Kildare goalie Christy Byrne. It promises to be a great day out so come along and enjoy a fantastic day out for all the family.”