Kildare Boy With Down Syndrome - Once Strong Swimmer - Now Faces Wheelchair After Surgery Delay

Speaking to Kfm, his father Vincent asked: “How does it get to this stage?”

A Kildare boy with Down Syndrome has been left waiting more than three years for surgery, despite doctors warning he could face life in a wheelchair without it.

15-year-old Evan Gardiner has been a patient in Crumlin since birth and is also connected with Tallaght and Naas hospitals. 

His father Vincent Gardiner says he was initially told insoles would be enough to correct his son's walking.

But as Evan grew, his ankles turned in, his kneecaps began to dislocate, and he started falling over regularly. 

Speaking to Kfm, his father Vincent said: “How does it get to this stage?” 

“Three years later, we’re still waiting.”

He said a top surgeon told the family it was “imperative” that Evan undergo major surgery as far back as 2022. 

The procedures would involve cutting into his knee, possibly breaking and realigning his leg, and pinning his kneecap. 

In all, he is facing up to five operations.

Despite this, Kfm understands that his surgery has been repeatedly scheduled, cancelled and rescheduled. 

His family said they received conflicting letters for October dates before finally being told he is due in on the 9th with surgery set for the 10th.

“He will end up having to use a wheelchair,” his father said, adding that his son is a strong swimmer and he hoped he could have continued that.

A wheelchair has already been delivered to the family's home. 

Mr Gardiner is currently dealing with a cancer diagnosis and said his family have had to go back and forth to try secure an appointment for their son. 

Fianna Fáil Kildare North TD Naoise Ó Cearúil has called the delays “completely indefensible.” 

He said that since May of this year, his office has contacted CHI and the HSE more than 60 times to try to secure answers.

"To make matters worse, Evan's father, Vincent, is himself undergoing cancer treatment. The family is under immense pressure, and they deserve clarity, compassion and timely care, not entities and cancellations and, to be honest, excuses," Deputy Ó Cearúil said.

He added: "My office became directly involved in May of this year. Since then, we have contacted CHI and the HSE over 40 times by email and over 20 times by phone. Every one of those contacts is documented and with me today. If this is the effort that a TD has to make to try to get some sort of answer, what hope do parents have in situations like this? It is completely farcical."

Minister of State Kieran O’Donnell said he could not discuss individual cases but said repeated cancellations cause “angst and anxiety.” 

He promised to raise the case with the Minister for Health.

In a statement to Kfm, a CHI spokesperson said: "Children's Health Ireland cannot provide details about the care provided to individual patients publicly. Even if a family decides to make their story public, we are still bound by patient confidentiality for all patients."