Brave Galway boy defies the odds following surgery

A brave young boy from East Galway is making huge strides in his determination to participate in sport – despite his parents being told that he would never walk.

It is a dream come true for the parents of little Mark Dolan from Ahascragh who underwent surgery in St Louis, Missouri late last year and has come on in leaps and bounds since.

Four-year-old Mark underwent surgery in America which allows him to walk unaided; a far cry from the scenario shortly after he was born when his parents were told that he would be confined to a wheelchair.

But Fidelma and Kevin Dolan both said that he is making huge progress and had grown in confidence following his surgery.

Mark and his twin sister Maeve were born prematurely on August 9, 2012. In the early months Mark seemed like any other typically developing infant.

However, subsequent tests showed that Mark suffered from a motor delay which primarily affected his lower limbs. Parents Fidelma and Kevin were told that he could be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life.

However, they learned that he could receive surgery in America that could rectify the situation. It involved a six hour long operation on his lower body.

It worked; and Fidelma said that there had been a huge difference with little Mark in the space of one year.

“The confidence and lack of fear of standing and walking is just incredible. Even recently the fact that he could crouch down and pick things up for himself, which was always beyond him, is so amazing and he is becoming so independent.

“A great joy is that now as he watches his sisters and other children playing outside he wants to be involved and shows no fear when getting down the step and out to the garden,” she added.

However, Fidelma said that there was a slight issue with a ‘drag’ in his left leg, but doctors pointed out that rather than bringing him back to St Louis for further surgery now they would prefer to see how he progresses after a further twelve months therapy in Limerick and they would have a clear prognosis on how much surgery, if any, would be required.

“He pointed out that while it is a long road he had no doubt that Mark will be able to participate in sports down the road.

“This is great news as we continue to travel up and down to Limerick three to five times a week and continue to work for hours at home in a bid to give our son every chance,” Fidelma added.

When Mark arrived back from St Louis he received a standing ovation on the dance floor of the Carlton Shearwater Hotel by around 400 guests who arrived to welcome him back.

The local community in Ahascragh raised an incredible quarter of a million for his treatment and future treatment if required.

The Mark’s Wish To Walk fundraiser has been a phenomenal success.