Cadan is a 9-year-old little boy from Oranmore, Co, Galway .
He suffers from both Jacobsen’s syndrome and Duplication of chromosome 12, both conditions are rare by themselves, but Cadan is the only person recorded to have both. Cadan’s condition has left him profoundly and mentally disabled and at many times quite unwell. He spends a lot of time in both Temple Street and Crumlin Children’s hospitals, he has had more than his fair share of surgeries on the brain, stomach, and bowel all of which are complicated by his narrow airways. He also needs extensive physio due to his low muscle tone. He is visually impaired, nonverbal, suffers from hydrocephalus, re arranged anatomy and many more medical issues.
Cadan is currently fed by tubes through the bowel because the typical tube feeding wasn’t suiting Cadan. He wears a drainage bag to constantly drain the contents of his stomach along with his own body fluids, the more we can drain the less risk he has of aspirating on his own body fluids which could be fatal to Cadan. This bag must be aspirated every 2 hours during the day and hourly at night. Due to Cadans complex condition he needs 24 hour specialised care. He used to receive nursing care from the Jack and Jill foundation, but it ceased on his 5th birthday. . The family are receiving some night help from the HSE and ten nights respites at the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice , but on the nights that the HSE cannot provide a nurse Cadan’s mum or dad must be up night and day tending to his complex needs.
 
The family are left needing arrange their own additional nursing care for Cadan, for spending quality time with their other children, do the shopping or attend appointments of their own or even attend a family gathering. Unfortunately, when it comes to cadan they do not have the luxury of getting a babysitter or even a carer or a HCA , he requires specialised nursing care. The cost of hiring in additional nursing care as well as the extra expenses of home and car adaptions and the frequent journeys and stays in Dublin is causing immense pressure on the family.

Cadan’s little Battle was set up by family and friends to help support the family through this difficult time. All monies raised will go towards paying nurses directly to provide cadan and his family with the specialised home respite needed. It will also help towards home and travel adaptations, along with the expense of long hospital stays.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Yours Sincerely
Cadan’s Little Battle Committee