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An Armagh family living in Liverpool, with friends and family in Newry, are fundraising to help their baby son Eliseo access vital treatment and therapy after an extremely difficult start to his life. Eliseo was born prematurely at just 28 weeks in December 2024 and has spent more than seven months in hospital.
Eliseo is a twin and was conceived through IVF. In his short life he has already undergone 13 surgeries, the majority of which were on his brain, and his family has faced multiple frightening and uncertain periods throughout his care.
He has hydrocephalus, a condition which requires two VP shunts as his ventricles do not communicate with each other. Due to meningitis, he also has multiple large cysts throughout his brain and has previously suffered grade 4 brain bleeds. His shunts are life-saving but will require regular adjustments and replacements throughout his life as they are prone to blockage.
In May, Eliseo became critically ill with a second case of meningitis, spending nine weeks in hospital and requiring three brain drains and one-to-one care. He has since been diagnosed with infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy that affects brain development and requires early, specialised treatment.
At present Eliseo has minimal movement, very low muscle tone and is unable to lift or control his head. He has significant developmental delays and is under the care of an eye clinic as he is currently unable to track or focus with his eyes, with further tests still awaited to determine the extent of his vision. Doctors have told the family it is doubtful he will ever walk or talk, and that he will require lifelong care and support.
His parents are fundraising to help cover the cost of stem cell treatment, which is not available on the NHS and must be accessed abroad in countries including Panama, Mexico and the United States. The treatment is not a one-off procedure and works best when repeated alongside intensive therapy. The family are also fundraising for occupational therapy, hydrotherapy and weekly physiotherapy.
His mother Shauna O Reilly said: "Our son has already survived more in his first year of life than most people face in a lifetime. As parents, we never imagined we would have to ask for help like this. We are doing everything in our power to support our son, but the cost of specialised therapies and treatments is overwhelming. Every donation, no matter the size, will help give Eliseo the best possible chance. If you're unable to donate, sharing his story means just as much."
Already over £31,000 has been donated to the fundraiser. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/f/help-eliseo-access-vital-therapy-after-a-traumatic-start.
