Date set for Hayden’s life-changing surgery

AN operation date has now been booked for the young Strabane boy who needs to travel to Turkey for life-changing surgery for scolosis.

Eight weeks ago the family of Hayden Kelly began a mammoth fund-raising drive to help get the £50,000 needed to take him to Turkey. This week, thanks to the support of the Strabane public that total has topped £48,000 and the family have been able to secure a date for his surgery.

Delighted mum Shauna Kildea explained, “We have now been able to book Hayden’s surgery in Turkey, and it’s such a relief to be able to do that. It’s unbelievable the support we have received and I’ll never be able to say ‘thank you’ enough to everyone.

“We’ll probably need to leave here around September 8 to have time for pre-ops etc. We’re planning that both myself and Hayden’s daddy, Adrian, will be able to go.

“We are all very nervous. It’s difficult as parents as we don’t know what it will be like. I’ve been trying to explain to Hayden what is happening. He understands to an extent, and he sees the collections buckets around the house and everything, but it’s difficult for him. I’ve told him when he gets to the hospital they’ll put him to sleep and try and fix him, and that he’ll be a bit sore when he wakes up,” Shauna explained.

“At this stage we don’t know how long after the operation we’ll have to stay in Turkey, so we’ll just be waiting until he is well enough before we book flights home again.”

One of the most recent fund-raising events which took place certainly turned some heads. Peter McCrea raised a total of £770.69 for the family when he walked from Sion Mills to Strabane on Friday evening, clad only in an elephant thong.

In a bid to help push them over the total there are a number of events planned for this weekend.

On Friday morning NYPD have organised a special ‘Breakfast for Hayden’, when some special mascots will be calling in to delight the kids.

On Friday there will be a 5K walk/run starting from MacCumhaill’s Gaa Centre in Ballybofey starting at 7pm.

Also on Friday Eimhéar Rebel and Chris Carney will be taking to the stage in the Fir Trees for a night of great music.

On Saturday a charity wax night will take place in Kirk’s Bar, Plumbridge. There will be a bidding raffle on the night and music from Derek Fowler. The fun gets underway there at 9pm.

And next weekend there is a Golf Classic at Strabane Golf Club and Women’s Cycle planned for Ardstraw.

If you can’t get along to any of these events but would like to support Hayden then go to https://gofund.me/16befa79 or check out Hayden’s Appeal on Facebook.