Galway Bay FM News Archives
Parents pray for transplant to save baby
Date Published: 18-Apr-2011
By Heather Mackey
The parents of a four months old baby girl from Rahoon who has a life-threatening illness are desperately hoping she can get the liver transplant she needs to survive.
Little Ieva Zukaskaute has already had two unsuccessful operations for Biliary atresia, an illness which is a blockage in the tubes (ducts) that carry liquid called bile from the liver to the gallbladder.
The condition is congenital, which means it is present from birth and was only noticed on baby Ieva when, at six weeks, she was still very jaundiced.
Baby Ieva’s illness is at an advanced stage and if not treated by specialists at Kings College Hospital in London, she could die within six months.
Biliary atresia occurs when the bile ducts inside or outside the liver do not develop normally. The bile ducts help remove waste from the liver and carry salts that help the small intestine break down fat.In babies with biliary atresia, bile flow from the liver to the gallbladder is blocked. This can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis of the liver, which is deadly if not treated.
“We’ve spent the last two months living on hope with the two operations but we were told last week that they have not worked, so now she needs a liver transplant, and were just doing what we can to help Ieva and her family,” said Ieva’s godmother, Audrey Cassidy.
Only one surgeon in Ireland deals with biliary atresia and he has carried out both of the recent operations at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, but now baby Ieva needs to go to London on Friday of next week to wait for a liver transplant.
Christina and Andrew Zukaskaute are the Polish/Latvian parents of four month old Ieva. Christina has lived in Galway for seven years working in the Sewing Studio, Shop Street for most of that time.
The Zukaskaute Family are appealing to the people of Galway to help raise much needed funds for medical management including a trip to the UK next week.
If you wish to pledge a donation to the Baby Ieva Fund, you can do so at AIB Lynches Castle – a/c no: 33233063 branch no: 937096.
Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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