Cork family thanks community for support: ‘So much changed..We’re grateful Matthew is alive’

A Cork family whose lives changed in an instant one random Tuesday evening say they can’t thank their community enough for rallying around them in their hour of need.

Daire and Gina Lynch’s four-year-old son Matthew is being treated for a rare abdominal condition that has seen him undergo life-saving surgeries in Cork and Dublin.

Both Daire and Gina are self-employed artists who have been unable to work since that traumatic evening, however, a fundraiser launched locally has given them a world of comfort.

“Matthew became suddenly and violently ill on the evening of April 21. It was 8.20pm, he was in bed, and he just sat bolt upright, clenching his stomach in agony,” recalled Daire.

The couple took him to South Doc immediately and were told to go straight to CUH.

“We drove there, and he was in so much pain, with spasms and vomiting,” said his dad. “Scans showed he needed life-saving surgery that night, and he later needed a second surgery in Cork. Not long after, he was taken by ambulance to Temple Street hospital, where he had another life-changing surgery, and going forward he’ll require more.”

The good news, said Daire, is that his son has turned a corner and is starting to improve and heal, and has been discharged ahead of a future surgery.

“He lost two kilos in two weeks. He was 18 kilos to start with, so that’s a jarring weight loss. He’s facing a long road to recovery, but we’re grateful to be where we are and that’s what we’re focusing on.”

Time, said Daire, had literally stood still since that traumatic April evening.

“I had just been in the garage where I’ve a punch bag set up when it all unfolded. It feels like it was just yesterday, even if so much has changed, but we’re so grateful that Matthew is alive.”

Gina remembers the constant stress and anxiety that kept being piled on.

“Every time we spoke to a consultant or specialist was overwhelming. We had just about gotten to terms with one problem when it was upgraded to something more serious. And just when we thought he had turned a corner after his first emergency surgery in CUH, we had the devastating news that it had failed and he needed to be transferred to Temple Street immediately for a second emergency surgery,” she said.

“For me, the hardest part was not being able to comfort Matthew and him begging ‘help me, momma’. It still brings tears to my eyes thinking about it now.”

Daire, originally from Dublin, and Gina from Galway, moved to Skibbereen a few years ago and regard West Cork as their adopted home.

They were initially reluctant to allow the fundraiser, organised by Lauren Howitt, whose daughter is in Matthew’s playschool, to go ahead.

“I’m the kind of person who is reticent to even ask someone for a lift,” said Daire. “But if someone else needed help I’d do as much as I can and auction a painting, so that’s why we’ve accepted the help of our community.

“Gina and I are artists and that’s our only source of income. It can be a hard graft at the best of times, and we can’t facilitate any commissions at the moment because of Matthew so the fundraiser is providing us with a lot of comfort,” he said.

Gina added: “Work was instantly put on the backburner to focus fully on Matthew and being there every time he woke up from another surgery or recovering each night in hospital.

“Thankfully, clients and customers were so accommodating. People are generally happy to support small businesses, and when they do they believe in the personal experience.”

The GoFundMe has raised over €29,000, with over 500 individual donations, which reflects the esteem the couple is held in, in the locality. Their intention is to use the money to cover daily incidentals.

“Gina is known from her stall at the local market and the sense of community in Skibbereen is just amazing,” said Daire.

“The playschool Matthew goes to, The Yellow Door, also had a pyjama day. It all means so much that we won’t have financial stresses, and will be able to focus on looking after Matthew.”

The couple thanked “the entire team of Temple Street and CUH – from catering and sanitation all the way up to the nurses, doctors and surgeons – all of whom have been amazing”, along with Brú Columbanus, which provided them with accommodation when Matthew was treated in Cork.

• See GoFundMe for more.