THERE’S A NEW children’s hospital in town – or at least, there will be come 2020.

You may have heard about the granting of planning permission for the new hospital at St James’s campus in Dublin. There’s been a lot of debate about the issue, both positive and negative.

But the existing children’s hospital is about to hit a significant milestone of its own.

Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin is turning 60 this year. To mark the occasion, the Children’s Medical and Research Foundation (CMRF – Crumlin’s fundraising arm) has launched a Crumlin’s Big Book of Memories campaign.

The grand old hospital has a very special place in a lot of Irish people’s hearts, parents and children both – as you can tell from this selection of their stories.

Some are happy, some are devastatingly sad. All are powerful.

The Parents

Ann-Marie

“My daughter Kate was transferred to Crumlin at three days old with acute renal failure, a hole in her heart and chronic ascites of the abdomen which meant she was capable of producing two litres of fluid in her abdomen daily.”

My first memory of Crumlin was sitting outside ICU Two on the plastic chairs for over two and a half hours waiting to see if the nurses could stabilise Kate so we could see her. It seemed like a week before we were called in. I’ll remember forever that fear in the bottom of my stomach as I sat wondering if this hospital could hold the answers to our prayers.

Kate was given a 5% chance at one stage and many of the 63 days spent in Crumlin were filled with worry. It took six and a half weeks for the fluid to subside and we never did find out why it happened, she was just deemed a miracle by the many teams of consultants, doctors and nurses that cared for her.

“I met some of the most wonderful people in Crumlin in my nine weeks there and I can honestly say it was the most humbling experience of my life. It changes you, you will never be the same after being a Crumlin parent, you will never take things for granted or sweat the small stuff in life.”

Nicola

cianan cianan

“My son spent only a couple of hours in Crumlin hospital. It was May 1999. Those couple of hours saved his life.”

When Dylan was four he was hit by a car while he was out playing. He died in the ambulance but thank God they managed to bring him back to me. When he was taken to Crumlin the staff were brilliant. They looked after Dylan so well I reckon without them he wouldn’t be here today.

“They were so compassionate and caring, giving us everything we needed. I always remember the doctor taking us into the parents’ room and telling us Dylan had 24 hours to live. He had suffered a fractured skull among other injuries. My whole world crumbled that night.”

He’s now 21 and has made a full recovery thank God. It was a scary night, the worst of my life, but thanks to the staff of Crumlin my baby boy survived. I owe them everything. This picture is of Dylan (left) today with his partner. I am so proud of him. He always will be my little soldier.

Lorraine

“My first memory was that first devastating walk down what I called the long mile to St John’s ward, the unknown which was to be our second home for 18 months.”

We have some bad memories but a lot of great ones thanks to good staff and camaraderie with other parents going through the torture that is childhood cancer.

“Thank you to the doctors and staff for giving us our daughter’s future. We had lots of funny moments and endearing ones too.”

Jennifer

“As a new mum I was petrified when on Christmas Day Julianne, who was just 13 days old, developed a haemangioma. It grew rapidly and people would always stare at her.”

“At four months old she started treatment under Dr Watson. I can’t describe how Crumlin has changed our lives and Julianne’s. The road was long but 18 months after we started we were told our treatment was finished.”

Patricia

“We spent seven years up and down to Crumlin Hospital from Westport with our son Luke who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of six.”

“We lost our very brave, amazing boy two years ago. He was just 13. I will never forget his oncologist in Crumlin Dr Michael Capra, a wonderful man with a big smile. He always had a great welcome for Luke and always made him feel at ease.”

I can still see Luke walking along the corridors, making his way to the fish tank to watch the fish, then racing to the elevator to make his way to Hoops Clinic. He always loved his visit to the little shop where he knew he was guaranteed a treat or two before we would leave to make our way home. I remember buying him a little teddy bear on his very first visit to Crumlin. It was christened Floppy.

Floppy accompanied Luke on all his trips to Crumlin, Beaumont and Temple Street – he would tuck him under his arm as he was wheeled to theatre time and time again. The memories. All too painful now.

Rose

“I don’t have a photo, only memories.”

“Our son Stephen was in Crumlin in 1979. He was there for five weeks with a heart condition. He didn’t make it – he died on 26 April 1979, aged seven weeks.

They did everything they could for him. The staff were all lovely and so good. They made us feel so welcome when we were there. I would like to thank you all for the good work you do.

Keep it up. I am so happy for all the children that get to go home. It was 37 years ago that Stephen died but I still think of the staff who looked after him. Thank you all. God bless you.

The children

Matthew

“As a baby I was under the cardiac team in Crumlin. I have Down Syndrome.”

I don’t remember that first trip – over the years I had many a trip and sleepovers. At 11 years I was admitted to St John’s ward and there began 3 very difficult years. I have a few war wounds from the treatment.

I’m nearing 20 now and have spent the last week sailing with Sailtraining Ireland off the coast of Scotland. Thank you to all the staff at Crumlin.

Ciara

“Born 22 May 1997, two months premature at 3lbs 2oz with a critical heart disease.”

“I don’t remember much but all I know was my chances were next to none…”

But now here I am 19 years later in college, playing sport and enjoying life thanks to the amazing work of the doctors in Crumlin and I am forever grateful.

Iris

“I spent the majority of my childhood in Crumlin, from birth right up until the age of 16. I had over 100 operations there for congenital hip disorder and a fused knee-joint from birth.”

Femur rods, external fixators, hip stabilisation rods and more. I would not be walking as I am today without the years I spent in Crumlin and the doctors and staff who took the time to make me feel loved and safe and special.

I have since had nearly 100 more operations over the years but I will never forget my time in Crumlin. I look at the great life I have now – despite the hurdles, you made it all possible. I will be forever grateful.

Gerry

My twin sister Catherine and I had our tonsils taken out in Crumlin in the summer of 1962. We were just seven years old.

Our recovery happily involved lots of jelly and ice-cream. Nowadays I work in the hospital – lots has changed but the staff are all as nice as ever. One really big difference is that unlike in 1962 parents can now stay with their children in the hospital. That’s good news.

Caoimhe

“When I was born, Crumlin saved my life. What was a frightening time for my parents turned out to be a positive time as a wonderful team of doctors, surgeons and nurses battled with my tumour alongside my six-day-old self.”

I’m 22 now and I constantly think of how lucky I am that I had these people who cared so much for a tiny tot.

Bridene

“I spent the first five years of my life in and out of Crumlin hospital. It was my second home. I was born with a heart condition called Fallot’s Tetralogy and it required several open heart surgeries at the beginning of my young life.”

This was in the 1980s and Fallot’s was quite a rare condition. If it wasn’t for the expertise of my heart surgeons and the living care of the nurses I wouldn’t be here to tell my tale.

I’m now a grown woman with a little girl of my own, and Crumlin hospital will always hold a special place in my heart.

You can read more of these stories, or leave a memory of your own, here.

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