Fists of fury for Newbridge girl's stem cell fund
A NEWBRIDGE dad will break concrete blocks with his bare hands to try raise funds for his disabled daughter's medical treatment.
Young La Leigh N Droignein was born four-and-a half years ago with a severe form of cerebral palsy. She can't move her torso or limbs and is fed through a tube. She also suffers frequent epileptic fits and is visually impaired.
The youngster has also recently beaten a bout of swine flu which has left her with incapacitating fibrosis on her lungs.
Her dad S and mum Rosanna, who live in Standhouse in Newbridge, are trying to raise funds to take their daughter to Greece for stem cell treatment. The process, which will cost at least $56,000, is unavailable in Ireland but might give La a better quality of life.
This Saturday S will take to the streets of Kildare town to break blocks as part of a fundraising martial arts demonstration, which will take place outside Top Nolan's from 1pm.
He is also planning to have a car parked on his shins as part of the day-long fundraiser, a prospect he admits is keeping him up at nights!
Lia attends St Anne's special school, and her dad is full of admiration for those who have worked with his daughter. The four-year-old also has severe epilepsy and used to suffer up to 300 fits a day when she was younger.
"Realistically, you can not say what the treatment will do for her," he said. "She may not be dancing around. If it improves her vision, it would be great, because if she can see then she can start to copy other kids."
The family also hopes that the treatment will help alleviate La's epilepsy, for which the youngster must take 16 drugs per day.
"I hope and pray that she will walk and talk, but no matter what she gets it is going to be a plus," said her determined dad.
Locals have already helped raise n17,000 towards the treatment.
S has been training with Kung Fu master Keith Fanning, who will also take part in the demonstration and pull off stunts such as pushing a car with a spear in his neck.
Other fundraising events will take place at Kildare's Phoenix venue throughout the day. La's brother Seamus, 11, and her mum's family, the Carter and O'Keeffe families from Kildare town will be helping with the fundraising efforts on the day.
Those who would like to help La can also donate through Permanent TSB: Sort Code 99-06-45, Account 11264588.
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Weather for Naas, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
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