'I didn’t think this day would ever come’ - extra-special day for Evan
Patrice Brady
As twelve Junior Infants began their first day at Drumkilly National School last week, it was an especially proud day for one mother as she waved goodbye to her twin sons, Evan and Leon.
It wasn’t that long ago when Angela Leddy had not even considered school for her son, Evan. After being diagnosed with acute liver failure and needing a bone marrow transplant, the Leddy family’s only concern was getting through each day with Evan as he bravely battled illness after illness.
“It all happened so quick,” Angela Leddy told the Celt. “Evan, like his twin brother, Leon, was always a very healthy little boy.
“I noticed him becoming a jaundice colour and we brought him into the hospital for blood tests. As soon as the results were back we were sent up to Crumlin and told Evan had acute liver failure and would need a transplant.”
On average two-to-four children in Ireland each year are diagnosed with liver failure needing a liver transplant. Evan was on a life support machine in Crumlin and two weeks after his diagnosis he was flown over to England for a liver transplant.
Transplant
However after the liver transplant, the Leddy family was told that Evan would also need a bone marrow transplant.
“After the surgery Evan was prone to infection and was always in and out of hospital.
“He had the bone marrow transplant eleven months after his liver transplant in Crumlin. But Crumlin had never done a bone marrow transplant on a person who had already had a liver transplant.
Proud
“All the surgeons were great, they did their research about the operation and the bone marrow transplant was a success,” said Angela.
Despite both transplants and other setbacks such as infections after the surgery, Evan still managed to start his first day at school alongside 11 other four and five year-olds.
“I’m so proud that he managed to come through everything and was able to start school with his brother. Since we got the call to say Evan had liver failure everything happened so fast.
“I didn’t think this day would ever come. Luckily, Evan was able to start playschool for a few days last April and we sent him a few days over the summer for him to get use to it.”