20,000 reasons to say thanks to amazing unit

20,000 reasons to say thanks to amazing unit

10 July 2013

FOR some parents who have lost a child, the Royal’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit is a place they would rather forget.

Not so for Emma and Philip Cullen who, despite losing their precious daughter Olivia there, are fundraising for the unit and its “fantastic” staff.

Olivia passed away in May 2012 at 18 months having fought a number of illnesses in her short life. She had a rare chromosomal condition (HMG-CoA synthase deficiency) which meant her body did not respond as it should when she contracted the norovirus on Christmas Day 2011.

Rushed into the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children, Olivia had lengthy waits for an adult MRI scanner — the Royal being the only hospital of its kind in the UK or Ireland not to have its own children’s facility. And while quicker scans would not have ultimately saved Olivia, it would have lessened the family’s trauma.

Despite their pain Emma and Philip were determined Olivia would not die in vain and after a major fundraising effort last year raised a total of £20,000 for the Children’s Heartbeat Trust — one of several charities fundraising for the Children’s MRI Scanner Appeal.

Just last month it was announced that the £2m needed for the scanner at the Royal has been raised.

“It was great to think we were among the people who contributed,” said Emma. “By this time next year we are not going to have a problem with children having to wait for the adult scanner. The delay is hard because you are sitting with them 24 hours a day in intensive care; then being parted with them for five hours to go for a scan is heartbreaking.”

With ‘Olivia’s Golf Day’ being a major success last year, the Cullen family hope there will be a good turn out for this year’s fundraising event on August 2 at Downpatrick Golf Club.

“Although we do not expect to raise quite as much this year, we hope that by supporting a very worthy cause our children will have the very best chance at survival and life that they deserve.” said Emma. “Obviously if you are a very sick child here you go to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Royal, which is for the whole of Northern Ireland.”

Olivia spent an initial five weeks in intensive care, and after a period in the neurology ward and time spent back home, her last days were in intensive care.

“They were so good to us,” said Emma. “We want to recognise what they did. The fact there are such a limited number of beds and us being there for five weeks, that it is a very long time for a child to spend in intensive care and we just want to thank them for everything.”

Olivia’s older brother Eoin, who is heading into P1 in September, has just got the all clear following tests to establish any links with Olivia’s chromosomal condition.

“He is doing great thank God, all his genetic tests came back normal,” said Emma. “It is difficult going to the hospital at the end where Olivia was, that is where our last memories are of her, but don’t want to forget the people who were so good to us. Even when she was down on the ward they never forgot about her.

“They are so welcoming. They are lovely, lovely people. We just want to thank them for everything.”

Now a bed manager at the Downe Hospital, Emma said her work as a nurse and family support had helped her through difficult times, including the first anniversary of Olivia’s death on May 27.

“I really do thank God we are doing ok,” she said. “On May 27 we went out for lunch and had Mass. Mum was 60 and we had a wee family celebration in Donegal.

“We do have positive memories. We had a difficult time in hospital but the staff there helped it not be worse, they made it as good as it could be. “The dedication and support of the staff there is fantastic.”

The Olivia Cullen Memorial Tournament on August 2 is raising money for Helping Hand — charity for the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The Cullen and Teggart families are asking local businesses to help through sponsorship or by donating prizes for a prize draw. The draw will take place following the presentation of prizes from Downpatrick Golf Club. Businesses can sponsor a hole for £40 or pay £50 to sponsor a hole and play golf.

Contact Ryan Teggart 07849 633681, Daniel Teggart on 07783 553636, Philip Cullen 07846 170305 or Emma Cullen on 07832 989205.