“Our story is one of fear, resilience, hope and overwhelming gratitude,” says Padraic Kavanagh as he prepares to cycle 1,000km in the month of June for Children’s Health Foundation and Friends of the Coombe.
“These two hospitals hold a very special place in our hearts. They have saved our twins’ lives more times than we can count,” remarks the Ballacolla man as he gets on his bike in preparation for a 1,000km cycle in June for Children’s Health Foundation and Friends of the Coombe.
Padraic, a primary school teacher at Scoil Naomh Eoin in Killenard, and his wife, Teresa, a teacher at St Fergal’s College, Rathdowney, wanted to give back for the care their twins Ellie and Páidi received in Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital and The Coombe.
“You truly don’t realise the life-saving work that happens every hour of every day in these hospitals until you’re right in the middle of it watching, waiting and hoping. We were there. And thanks to the incredible teams, our twins are thriving today,” says Padraic.
”I’ve been thinking for a long time about how I could give back, not only to raise money for both hospitals that cared for the twins but also to say thank you for the incredible support we received.
“My local GAA club Clough/Ballacolla and our schools in Rathdowney and Killenard have shown great support and we thank them for sharing and promoting the event,” Padraic says.
“The Twins’ Thank You Tour started as a simple idea and when I mentioned it to my friend, Darren, he immediately offered his bike and started crunching the numbers. I’m not a regular cyclist so the challenge is huge for me but I have the motivation.”
Ellie and Páidí Kavanagh were born at just 27 weeks on December 17, 2021, weighing 2lbs 6ozs and 2lbs 10ozs respectively.
“They were fragile and impossibly small but already fierce fighters,” recalls Padraic. “From early in the pregnancy, we faced challenges. Páidí was diagnosed in the womb with Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT0), a condition that caused his tiny heart to race at over 240 beats per minute.
“The medication to slow his heart was essential but it came with a terrible cost. The treatment affected Ellie too, and her heart rate began to fall dangerously low. The twins needed to be delivered to save them both,” recalls Padraic.
They came into this world with what Padraic describes as a whirlwind of urgency, and were rushed into separate incubators, surrounded by a flurry of medical staff. “While we tried to process the shock of their arrival, the doctors fought to stabilise Páidí”s heart.”
The following 48 hours were some of the longest of the couple’s lives. “We watched and waited, feeling utterly hopeless as the team tried to find the right combination of medications to bring Páidí’s heart under control,” remembers Padraic.
No sooner than that was done, than Ellie’s condition sparked alarm.“Only four days old, her tiny stomach began to swell – something was terribly wrong,” Padraic recounts.
She was rushed to Crumlin Children’s Hospital where surgeons quickly discovered that her bowel had twisted, a life threatening condition required immediate surgery.
“Ellie was then deemed strong enough to return to her brother in The Coombe on Christmas Day Unfortunately there was a high risk of infection and within two days she was started on a course of antibiotics for sepsis,” remembers Padraic.
“Our attention and worry shifted from twin to twin, as Páidí was still experiencing episodes of SVT and required new PICC lines each time to administer medication. This also carried a high risk of infection and he too needed antibiotics for sepsis.”
A whole range of other concerns followed and Ellie, at just two pounds, was diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity and needed laser eye surgery to correct the growth of abnormal cells that, if left untreated, could lead to blindness.
There was euphoria when Ellie was discharged from hospital on February 18, 2022 and Páidí followed on March 29, 2022.
Travelling home as a family of four, it was, Padraic recalls, the best day of their lives.
“The twins had regular appointments every couple of months after being discharged but now it’s every six months for Páidí’’s heart and Ellie is still being seen by ophthalmology in Crumlin,” Padraic says.
They are living very happy fun-filled lives, according to their proud dad. “They are in the Clough/Ballacolla nursery group learning their hurling and camogie skills.
“Páidí loves Spiderman, dinosaurs and hurling. Ellie loves jigsaws, teddies and colouring. We are so happy and so lucky,” Padraic reflects.
“This ride is for the twins, for the doctors and nurses, and for every parent who has ever relied on the care of these amazing hospitals.
“My plan is to cycle from my home village of Ballacolla to Killenard, where I teach. The round trip is 76 km, and I aim to complete it three times a week.
“I’ll make up the remaining distance on weekends and hopefully, finish the challenge on my last day of school,” Padraic says.
“I’ve already cycled the route from Ballacolla to Killenard once. Let’s just say, I made it through. The training will ramp up over the next couple of weeks, but I’m counting on a good bit of pure stubbornness to carry me through the month,” he laughs.
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