Support needed for Hayden’s spinal surgery

A 12-YEAR-OLD Strabane boy faces a trip to Turkey for life-changing spinal surgery due to the inadequate waiting lists which currently exist in the North.

Hayden Kildea suffers from scoliosis, a serious condition affecting the curvature of his spine. His consultant has said the Knockavoe student requires urgent surgery if he is to live a healthy life.

His mother, Shauna Kildea, has contacted a doctor in Turkey who agreed surgery is absolutely necessary and should be carried out as quickly as possible.

Shauna, drawing inspiration from the parents of other local children affected by scoliosis, has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the £50,000 the family need to take Hayden to Turkey for his surgery.

Speaking about her frustration regarding waiting lists locally Shauna explained, “We were told if we sat on the NHS waiting list for surgery we could be waiting for years.

“Like most twelve-year-olds Hayden is hitting a growth spurt and the next few years will see him do the majority of his growing.

“In normal circumstances that would be an exciting prospect for a young boy, getting bigger and stronger, but for Hayden it could be catastrophic, because as he grows his condition will get worse.

“His spine will interfere with his lungs and damage other internal organs. It’s extremely dangerous. Surgery can’t wait,” Shauna explained.

For now Hayden’s condition is being treated with a ‘Boston Brace’ – a tight rigid shell that wraps around his mid-section to keep his back straight – but this treatment is aggravating and wholly inadequate.

“Hayden has autism and other sensory issues – what a person without these problems might consider quite annoying, Hayden finds deeply uncomfortable to the point that it’s intolerable for him to wear,” his mum explained.

Shauna is appealing to the generosity of the local people to help them reach their target

“I was particularly heartened by the local reaction to Amy’s Christmas Wish appeal. Amy was affected by scoliosis, the same condition as Hayden, and local people rallied behind her.

“I think everyone can empathise with what it would be like to be that child, or be the parent of that child,” she continued.

“Now Amy is on the other side of that operation, and I can’t tell you how much I hope that some day Hayden will be there as well.”

Shauna has set the fund-raising target at £50,000.

“We don’t have an exact figure yet, but it is going to be around that number, which is a lot of money in one sense – I’d never be able to raise it on my own, that is for sure.

“But this is a wee boy’s life we are talking about too. In that context it doesn’t seem like a mountain of money.

“I hope people show us the same kindness and generosity that they have shown in the past, that’s all we can ask. Every donation means everything to us. We will never be able to thank each person enough if Hayden gets the surgery he needs.”

• If you want to donate to Hayden’s Cause, you can find a link to the page on Shauna’s Facebook page – Shauna Kildea.

Shauna also recommends a group Scoliosis Support Belfast on Facebook, who provide help for patients and families across the North.