STAR of the Cork University Hospital’s Children’s Christmas Appeal, five-year-old Daniel O’Sullivan from Hollyhill, was the special guest at the English Market on Saturday.
Daniel arrived in a vintage fire engine, before he met Santa Claus who paid an early visit to Cork to help raise awareness and funds for the new children’s unit in CUH.
Daniel O’Sullivan with his parents Vincent and Deirdre and brothers Shaun and Anthony, Santa and Mrs Claus and Frozen stars Olaf and Elsa during the CUH Children’s charity appeal at the English market last Saturday.
Picture: Eddie O’Hare
Building has begun on the new unit, which once completed will be the largest centre for paediatric care outside of Dublin.
Although the HSE are funding the main capital costs of the build, the CUH Children’s Appeal is fundraising for such features as pull-out beds in paediatric wards so that parents can sleep by their sick children’s sides.
Daniel’s mum Deirdre O’Sullivan praised the staff at CUH, but said that the new unit is badly needed.
When he was just days old, Daniel contracted a rare virus which led to severe organ failure and a brain bleed; doctors at CUH rallied around the baby, and saved his life.
Daniel has defied the odds, but he still requires ongoing care.
“Daniel’s on oxygen 24/7, he’s peg fed [through a tube inserted into his stomach wall], and at night he’s monitored by a machine to check that his oxygen levels don’t dip dangerously low. But he’s a little fighter,” said Mrs O’Sullivan who is hugely grateful for the care at CUH.
Daniel received a special gift of a fire engine from staff at the English Market, presented by Pat O’Connell, of K O’Connell Fishmerchants on Saturday.
His face graces collection boxes throughout the English Market’s countertops this month; donations cam be made through the English Market, at www.cuhcharity.ie, by calling 021 423 4529, or emailing info@cuhcharity.ie.