Orlaith’s Journey: How POONS Helped One Brave Little Girl Face Cancer at Home

Do you have someone in your life that you’d do anything – absolutely anything – for?

I hope you do.

I do. And that’s why I want to tell you about my sister…

Orlaith is eleven now, but she’s been through more than any little girl should have to deal with. If you have children who are dear to you, you might find this hard to read. But, thanks to wonderful care and kind people like you, she’s doing well now. And once you’ve read about Orlaith, I hope you’ll be moved to send a generous gift to Children’s Cancer Services at Cork University Hospital Charity.

But let me take you back and share the story…

It began one day when Orlaith was 9. Her leg was a bit sore. She wondered, “What’s going on?” But she thought it was probably growing pains. Then the pain got worse. Mam took her to the doctor. He took x-rays. Then, he looked shocked. He immediately took bloods. Orlaith tells me that our mam came in, very upset. She told Orlaith, “They found something in your leg.” Orlaith stayed in hospital overnight. I was far away, living in New Zealand, when Mam rang me. “Prepare yourself,” she said. “They said there’s a growth there. And they’re 99.9% sure what it is.”

After a biopsy, Orlaith was diagnosed with cancer. I didn’t accept it at first. I hung on to that little bit of hope that maybe it was just something else. But it was cancer. Hearing a cancer diagnosis is never good news. But hearing that Orlaith, the youngest in our family, had cancer… Well, that was another level of fear and worry. I had to be there. So, without hesitation, I told Mam I would sell everything and move home permanently. As I was ready to fly home, I bought a Māori necklace. It was jade and a symbol for belief or protection. Orlaith wore that necklace to every chemotherapy treatment. And now, she’s always saying, “You just have to believe.” That’s a lot of wisdom to find in a little girl.

When I got home in November, I didn’t take a job. I was home to be with Orlaith. When you love someone, especially a child facing cancer, you need the best possible care. You want to be surrounded by people who understand, and who really cherish your loved one. That’s why POONS was started. The Paediatric Oncology Outreach Nursing Service is part of Children’s Cancer Services at CUH. It aims to keep children out of hospital as much as possible. Advanced practice nurses will come to the home to provide services like antibiotics and central line care including blood monitoring. They can even do some chemotherapy. It requires specialist training. And for children with cancer, it’s a miracle.

Would you send a gift today to help more children with cancer? Orlaith still needed to go to Dublin for her chemotherapy treatments. As we live in Cork, it was quite a trip, especially for my worried parents… and a little girl receiving strong chemotherapy. Between those trips, she was able to receive care from the POONS nurses. And being at home, where she felt comfortable, made such a difference for her. But it’s wonderful that the CUH are offering services like POONS. Orlaith hated traveling to Dublin. But Olga and Peg – the two nurses who came to our home – were caring, professional, and went the extra mile. She needed that support. And children at CUH who are facing cancer need your support today. Would you help with a gift?

Orlaith handled the situation better than we ever could have imagined. The first six treatments were horrific. We knew she was afraid. But she put on a smile and brave face. This was followed by a life changing surgery —12 hours long. Most of her lower leg bone was replaced with an internal prosthesis down to her ankle. Now, it’s all titanium. And she’s had a full knee replacement. If you asked her, she might tell you she was afraid, traveling up and down, and receiving the treatments. We were certainly afraid!

I saw what the treatments meant for her. They were brutal. And oh, how I wished I could take the pain and fear away from her! A gift from you could help another little girl or boy get through the worst of cancer treatment. Your generosity means more children like Orlaith would have expert nurses come to their home, where they’re surrounded by family and feel more comfortable. I’m thankful that we could depend on the POONS nurses. Any time we could avoid the long trip made things easier for our Orlaith. That’s why I hope you’ll support the service, and CUH, today.

Orlaith isn’t done yet. She’ll have more surgeries ahead as she grows – to lengthen the metal serving as her bone. But I hope that the worst is behind her. And that our Orlaith will have a full and happy life ahead of her. Her experience taught my family that you never know what’s around the corner. Sadly, there are many more children facing a cancer diagnosis. We need the best care for them here in Cork! And the POONS at CUH is a great start.

Would you join me today in supporting CUH’s Children’s Cancer Services and every child with cancer we care for? Your generous gift could make a terrible experience that much more bearable for children – and all the people who love them. Thank you for reading Orlaith’s story. And thank you for your generous heart!

With thanks,

Brian Butler (Orlaith’s Big Brother).