Meet Finn
You might remember wonderful Finn from his very moving appearance on the Late Late Toy Show last Christmas. We are thrilled to say that Finn is getting into the baking spirit and joining us to kick off this year's Great Irish Bake! Read Finn's emotional story below..
Finn was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in April 2018, he was just four years old at the time. In April 2018, Finn’s Mum Ellen took him to the local GP, he had a pain in his leg which was causing him discomfort. The GP recommended that he go to hospital to be checked out, once at University Hospital Waterford the medical team ran several tests, his blood work showed up signs that he was fighting something. The hospital did further tests that night, some of these were sent to CHI at Crumlin and Finn was diagnosed with Leukaemia. He was transferred by ambulance to CHI at Crumlin for further diagnosis and to begin treatment.
“When we arrived in CHI at Crumlin, we were brought straight to the oncology ward, we went down the long corridor to St. John’s Ward and through the double doors at the end, this was the beginning of three and a half years of treatment for Finn. While at CHI at Crumlin the type of Leukaemia was diagnosed, Finn had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). We learned that this is the most common type for his age group. We stayed in CHI at Crumlin for two full weeks, during this time Finn was fitted with a Hickman Line and started his chemotherapy treatment. The Staff were amazing, I can’t even explain how amazing they were. In those first two weeks there was so much to take in, the nurses reassured me that I didn’t need to take it all in, they would tell me what they were doing and why every time. They taught me how to change Finn’s dressings, this meant that I could do it when we were at home, Finn preferred that. They were all so fantastic and kind.
When Finn was first diagnosed, we met the whole medical team in a conference room, they were taking us through his treatment plan. I felt really overwhelmed by it all and at that stage I was so just so terrified about what was happening. I found myself getting upset and saying that Finn wouldn’t be able to start school in September, I was worried that this would hold him back. Finn’s consultant, Aengus O’Marcaigh, was quick to address my concern, he said that they were all behind Finn, they would do everything that they could to help him start school with the rest of his class. I felt so supported by this, he couldn’t make any promises, but he really listened to my worry and took time to reassure me.
….And Finn did start school with the rest of his class, he went straight in with his friends with no bother at all.
For the first two years we were in and out of CHI at Crumlin and University Hospital Waterford four or five days a week. Finn had chemo once a week, blood and platelet transfusions, lumbar punctures, if he wasn’t well, I had to take him to University Hospital Waterford to be checked out. The days travelling to Dublin were really long, up at 5am and not home until late. I had fantastic support from family and friends, my Mum or my sister would travel with us, and it meant that I could take a break if I needed.
The most difficult part, aside from the diagnosis, was being away from my older son Liam, he was just nine years old at the time. I really missed him and for those first few months it was hard to navigate it all. Liam is such a brilliant big brother to Finn, and he was so understanding about it all.
Finn really got into Lego while in hospital, it was amazing for us as it was something that he could do while he was getting his treatments, and he was relatively still while doing it. Finn would need to get Chemotherapy and transfusions once a week and so there were hours where he needed to be kept entertained. He has gotten so good at Lego; he is making sets that are for much older kids and even adults. While in hospital we found that the Play Specialists were amazing. They did lots of messy play like baking or playing with sludge or slime, Finn would jump up out of bed if that was happening.
There is a lovely program in CHI at Crumlin, ‘Beads of courage’. From the time you start your treatment, you begin collecting beads, each bead will represent a milestone, the patient completes a little card and has a log of all the beads they collect. Finn loves to pull them out and look at them, he remembers what he got them for. It’s such a lovely idea and it took the scariness out of going for different procedures.
The last year and a half of treatment we attended the HOOPS clinic in CHI at Crumlin as an outpatient, Finn’s Chemotherapy was reduced to once a month. He finished his treatment in September 2021, and we now attend every 6 months for a review.
He rang the bell in CHI at Crumlin when his treatment finished but due to COVID19 restrictions we couldn’t bring anyone else along. Ringing the bell on the Late Late Toy Show was a lovely moment for Finn,” Ellen, Finn’s Mum.
Help support kids like Finn!
We are so grateful to each and every person who has registered to take part in this year’s Great Irish Bake for Sick Children you can help kids like Finn right across CHI at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly.
Simply click the button below to make a donation and support sick children like Finn across CHI!
