Mayo mother in plea to give her six-year-old son 'a normal childhood'
Community rallying around Auryn Phelan in his cancer fight
The Mayo mother of a six-year-old boy who is battling a rare form of cancer is appealing to the community to help give her superhero son 'a normal, healthy childhood'.
Little Auryn Phelan, a son of Castlebar native Trisha Gibbons and Sligo man Barry Phelan, has endured 13 rounds of chemotherapy, two major surgeries, stem cell transplants and 14 rounds of radiotherapy.
As he nears the end of his treatment in Crumlin Children's Hospital, a major challenge lies ahead for him and his family.
Stage four neuroblastoma has an extremely high relapse rate and there are few treatment options if it returns and survival rates are low.
His parents are now fundraising to get him a place on a clinical trial in the US which is expected to cost in the region of €375,000.
“Auryn has been surrounded by sadness, unspeakable horrors in hospital and endured medical procedure after procedure. We just want to give Auryn back a normal, healthy childhood," said his mum Trisha Gibbons, who grew in Lakeshore Drive, Castlebar.
"Aside from all the horrible procedures, he has missed out on so much of his childhood in the last year - the simple things that people take for granted have been denied to him.
“Auryn is a gorgeous, energetic, funny, lovable boy who just wants to be a child and do what children do.
“This cancer journey has impacted Auryn and our family so much and has taken such a toll on both Auryn's physical and mental wellbeing.
“Due to his compromised immune system and constant risk of infection, we were required to keep him indoors, out of school and away from other children.”
Trisha is a daughter of Mary and the late Patsy Gibbons, who was a member of the teaching staff of Davitt College in the town for over 30 years.
Her sister, Aine, resides in Mountgordon on the Westport Road with her husband, Brian Lawlor, Auryn's godfather. They are both teachers, Aine in Killasser NS and Brian in Culleens NS, Ballina.
Trisha has also family connections in Breaffy where her uncle, Tom Higgins, was principal of Breaffy NS and her aunt, Mary, was a member of the school's teaching staff.
Trisha now lives in Dublin with her husband Barry and their family, Lily-Ann Phelan (10) and Auryn Phelan (6).
She and her husband Barry Phelan have set themselves the task of raising €375,000 by next January to enable Auryn to take part in a vaccine trial at the Slone Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York. All funds raised will go towards his treatment.
A GoFundMe appeal online has already raised more than €90,000.
Explained Trisha: “This vaccine is not available in Ireland, so our only option is to travel overseas. It has had very promising phase one results and we will do everything in our power to save our wonderful boy and get Auryn this treatment.”
The family have set up the Auryn's Heroes fundraising campaign (http://www.aurynsheroes.ie) and are planning a series of events in Mayo and Barry's native Sligo as well as in Dublin.
They are also encouraging people to sign up for the virtual Vhi Virtual Women's Mini Marathon in October and run it in aid of Auryn's Heroes.
“The support so far from Castlebar has been incredible - it's a great town with great people,” said Trisha.
There are a number of local events happening and being planned in the Castlebar area.
The Connaught Quartet are staging a classical quartet recital "lakeside lullabies" on Saturday next, August 22, on the Lough Lannagh Pier.
A cake sale took place at Ballyvary National School last weekend.
"We just want to give Auryn back a normal healthy childhood and put this journey behind both him and us for good.
"We are incredibly grateful to the people of our home counties of Mayo and Sligo, as well as our adopted home of Dublin, and indeed the country for the support and generosity shown to us," added Trisha.