Méadhbh McGivern (14), and her dad on Morning Ireland

Jomacg · 14-08-2011 12:28AM

I am Meadhbh's dad. It is heartening to see all the comments of support for what has happened us. It is also extremely annoying to read some of the comments posted, especially when they are unaware of the facts.
One comment related to not "just getting a commercial flight"; another to "not just relocate to London". Do you have any idea of how our lives were turned upside down that night? We were assured that we just wait for the call, have your bags ready and make go to the designated airport. I had contacted EMSS on many ocassions to ensure everything was still in place. Many transfers were performed successfully over the years. We had no reason whatsoever to doubt the system at that time. That night was a myriad of horrors. Do you honestly think that had I known how events were progressing that I would have just sat there? Are you not aware that we tried frantically to try and do that? What kind of father do you think I am? Do you not think we tried for a flight from Enniskillen, even though the airport was closed? It is just sickening to see people posted comments about what we should or should not have done. I certainly hope that what we went through that night, and are still going through, never lands on your door-step. I also hope that your children stay safe and well and never experience what our Meadhbh has for the past number of years. As for re-locating to London - I just won't go there. Already discussed with medical staff. Please do not make flippant comments on our situation - we are hurting enough already.

Biggins · 14-08-2011 03:38AM

Dear Jomacg,

First of all, we do all here sincerely hope a wrong is put to right and your daughter gets the transplant she much needs.
I and every decent person here I know wishes your daughter and your family well.
I too have a daughter with a non-curable illness (for which Crumlin Hospital is a national godsend)- but not as serious as your own daughters presently - so if I may, I and my wife, plus many others that have sick children, have an inkling of the sheer worry and stress that you and your good wife are going through - not daily but hourly, if not by every waking moment.
Lookers on cannot even begin to imagine the sheer hair pulling stress of not being able to do any more than you can day to day, and still it seems at times its a forever (and is) constant uphill battle - but you don't dare give up because of one thing - and thats the love you have for your child.
Whats more, one dare not show it to the child what stress yourself and wife are under and a brave smiling face is used. One tries hard not to compound the pain already suffered by a child that all too well sometimes can read faces and see additional pain in the eyes of the parent.

Apologies too for some here that might have come across too harshly. Some times where there is lack of clarity, people rush to judgement and subsequently in the speaking of opinions, others forget that its real live people with the ability to hurt emotionally that are being spoken of.

I and the good members of this forum wish your daughter, your good wife and yourself every sincere good look for the future.
Our fingers are crossed for your daughter in hope of her gaining some better luck soon.
All the best.

Biggins.

(I do not want this post thanked please - if anything and we should, thank Jomacg for taking the time to explain some things and wish his family well by solidarity.)

Apanachi · 15-09-2011 11:04AM

Just heard on the radio, she is now in London undergoing a liver transplant operation.

Great news and good luck to Meadhbh and her family

Wertz · 15-09-2011 11:07AM

Delighted for her, hope everything goes well and she makes a full recovery. At least the State got it right this time.

Davidth88 · 15-09-2011 11:15AM

Good luck to her I hope it goes well .

syklops · 15-09-2011 11:16AM

spank_inferno wrote: »

Agree with Mike.... the blame here should go to the private company who are supposed to manage and co-ordiate these events (extra ordinary though they are)

that is the thread. Delete all other comments and leave that point.

Christ sake can we not go one thread without Harney and Bertis being mentioned?

This case is not about the fundamental thing we think about in Ireland(money), but the thing we are worst at doing which is organization and thinking ahead. That we have one helicopter capable of doing this is shameful. That no-one in the HSE thought to ring a different transport and say, could you maybe help this girl and we will talk money later, is pathetic.

alphaLaura · 15-09-2011 11:39AM

Hi,

I am a private (ie - hobby/non-commercial) pilot. I was disgusted when I first heard Meadhbh's story. There was talk of an initiative to set up a voluntary flight service under emergency situations in Ireland - http://www.flyinginireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5361 and http://www.angelflightsoars.org/pilot.htm
I would have signed up for this (along with alot of my flying friends) if there was no required to be "Instrument Rated" and have access to a suitable Instrument-capable aircraft. This means that the pilot has an additional rating on their license that enables them to fly in poor weather conditions. Although we have fairly miserable weather here in Ireland, very many days are in fact suitable for "visual flying" as opposed to "instrument flying". Additionally, allowing a pilot without an instrument rating to fly an emergency flight is cheaper as aircraft costs are usually less.

Anyway, I suppose what I am saying is that this initiative should go ahead with support from people like those who have posted here. And, within reason, it doesn't always need to have strict pilot requirements.

sunflower27 · 15-09-2011 11:57AM

Just saw on the news that Meadhbh is being operated on now in London.

All the best to her and her family.

Orando Broom · 15-09-2011 11:58AM

alphaLaura wrote: »

Hi,

I am a private (ie - hobby/non-commercial) pilot. I was disgusted when I first heard Meadhbh's story. There was talk of an initiative to set up a voluntary flight service under emergency situations in Ireland - http://www.flyinginireland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5361 and http://www.angelflightsoars.org/pilot.htm
I would have signed up for this (along with alot of my flying friends) if there was no required to be "Instrument Rated" and have access to a suitable Instrument-capable aircraft. This means that the pilot has an additional rating on their license that enables them to fly in poor weather conditions. Although we have fairly miserable weather here in Ireland, very many days are in fact suitable for "visual flying" as opposed to "instrument flying". Additionally, allowing a pilot without an instrument rating to fly an emergency flight is cheaper as aircraft costs are usually less.

Anyway, I suppose what I am saying is that this initiative should go ahead with support from people like those who have posted here. And, within reason, it doesn't always need to have strict pilot requirements.

Can't agree with this. There is an instrument rating for a reason. Passenger safety should be an absolute priority. To call for anything less is ridiculous. The airline industry has been forced into the highest of standards for a very good reason. Public confidence in air travel is high because the standards are high.

You see in this country how deregulation gets corrupted for personal gain, this initiative would be the very same.

While there is no way to understand the plight of the McGivern family and no meaningful expression of the lengths they would have gone to to see Meadbh receive the treatment she required there has to be parameters. Instrument rated pilots is non-negotiable.

I am surprised at the mere suggestion that lives would be risked by employing standard operating procedures at levels far below the highest attainable.

iguana · 15-09-2011 12:08PM

Family joy as Leitrim teen Meadhbh finally gets transplant

MEADHBH McGivern, the Leitrim girl who missed out on a liver transplant in July, is undergoingher long awaited transplant in London this morning.

Fourteen-year-old Meadhbh and her family were flown to England last night by the Air Corps. The operation began at 7am this morning.

Meadhbh, who has a rare liver condition, was called for transplantation to Kings College Hospital in London on July 2 of this year but the authorities handling her transportation failed to get her there on time.

Meadhbh’s family are maintaining an anxious wait in King's Hospital London as she undergoes a 5-8 hour liver transplant.
Cont>>>>>>

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/family-joy-as-leitrim-teen-meadhbh-finally-gets-transplant-2877454.html?start=1

alphaLaura · 15-09-2011 12:08PM

Can't agree with this. There is an instrument rating for a reason. Passenger safety should be an absolute priority. To call for anything less is ridiculous. The airline industry has been forced into the highest of standards for a very good reason. Public confidence in air travel is high because the standards are high.

I am not suggesting we compromise safety. An instrument rating does not necessarily make you a better pilot! In the case of emergency flights, it gives the pilot extra scope for making the decision of whether to fly or not in poor weather.

I'm suggesting that having some sort of relaxation on the requirement to be instrument rated in cases where a skilled VFR pilot (non-instrument rated, but with plenty fo experience) has immediate access to a suitable aircraft may be reasonable.

Orando Broom · 15-09-2011 12:16PM

alphaLaura wrote: »

I am not suggesting we compromise safety. An instrument rating does not necessarily make you a better pilot! In the case of emergency flights, it gives the pilot extra scope for making the decision of whether to fly or not in poor weather.

I'm suggesting that having some sort of relaxation on the requirement to be instrument rated in cases where a skilled VFR pilot (non-instrument rated, but with plenty fo experience) has immediate access to a suitable aircraft may be reasonable.

How is a person untrained in aviation to know if you are competent to do the job safely? at the end of the day you are asking people in dire circumstances to trust you, the expert to do the job to the highest standards enforcable. If you are not IR qualified then you are a rung below the highest standard, irrespective of self confidence or hubris. The IR is a benchmark that once attained gives the pilot a proven degree of competency, good luck to you if you think you are better than an IR pilot. I for one think the attitude is cavalier and unbecoming of an individual who is in sole charge of other peoples lives.

Perhaps you should rethink your strategy and lobby for discounted IR training from an under-worked Air Corps so you would be in a position to offer your services safe in the knowledge that there is no conditions you can't acquit yourself in safely.

Question would you let your family drive with a limo driver on a provisional? He may be a better driver than a lot of licences drivers, or he may not. But the bottom line is he has not for what ever unknown reason received the basic mandated qualification stating he has a degree of competence to carry passengers.

alphaLaura · 15-09-2011 12:31PM

But the bottom line is he has not for what ever unknown reason received the basic mandated qualification stating he has a degree of competence to carry passengers.

In relation to licensing - you do not need an instrument rating to carry passengers. You need a commercial license. I believe this argument with learner drivers on the road is irrelevant as it is essentially comparing all licensed pilots with no instrument rating to learner drivers. BUT, I do understand there is a very wide spectrum of skill level in, let's say, private pilots with no additional ratings. And I have made no comment about my own ability - I certainly do not "think I am better" than those with IRs. On the flip side, I know some IR pilots who are quite dismal as fliers versus some non-IR pilots who have an amazing capacity as pilot in command.

Am I wrong in assuming there are a number of non-emergency but immediate ferry flights required for passengers needing medical treatment every year?

This is not meant to be cavalier! I'm just trying to figure out if its reasonable to have a network of pilots that do not have the bells and whistles but the experience to do the job as competently as those with CPL-MEIR etc etc.

iamwhoiam · 15-09-2011 05:26PM

God bless Meadhbh and her family and hope it all goes well and Meadhbh at last can look ahead and be well .

kelle · 15-09-2011 08:12PM

I've just read about Meadhbh this minute. That is fantastic news, and I hope all goes well for her!

sunflower27 · 15-09-2011 08:18PM

She is still in surgery. Got this off breakingnews.ie

Hopefully it is all going OK.

15/09/2011 - 19:43:59
Meadbh McGivern's liver transplant surgery is continuing at a hospital in London this evening.

The family of Leitrim teenager Meadbh McGivern have said they are still waiting to hear how her life-saving operation has gone.

Maedbh missed out on a transplant in July, because of delays in getting her to London, but she and her parents were rushed to Kings College Hospital in London overnight, on an Air Corps learjet.

She has been in the operating theatre since 7am this morning.

Read more: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/surgeons-still-operating-on-leitrim-transplant-girl-520738.html#ixzz1Y3BSo7TW

JONJO THE MISER · 15-09-2011 08:33PM

Hopefully all goes well.

Biggins · 15-09-2011 09:01PM

Best wishes Meadbh McGivern - and to her family too.
Great news she is being operated upon.

*Fingers crossed*

Micky Dolenz · 15-09-2011 09:15PM

How long did the op last? Any word on how it went?

Lady Chatterton · 15-09-2011 09:24PM

My thoughts and prayers are with Meadhbh and her family. I hope the transplant op is successful

UpCork · 15-09-2011 09:26PM

Only heard now that Meadbh got called for her transplant. Just said a prayer for her and her family there that all will go well. I am so happy that she was given a second opportunity after the awful mess that was made of getting her to London the first time round

Esoteric_ · 15-09-2011 09:46PM

I'm praying that this transplant is successful and gives the poor girl the good life she deserves. My thoughts are with her and her family right now.

Donny5 · 15-09-2011 09:51PM

TheJournal.ie says she's out of surgery and stable in an ICU, so that's good news.

Dionysus · 16-09-2011 08:18AM

iamwhoiam wrote: »

God bless Meadhbh and her family and hope it all goes well and Meadhbh at last can look ahead and be well .

Ditto. Joe McGivern is coming on Morning Ireland in a few minutes (after Gilmore). Hope it all goes well and Meadhbh is not in too much pain, Joe. I hope she'll get good post-op treatment as it can be very scary.

Plazaman · 16-09-2011 08:40AM

Great to hear Meadbh got her transplant at last and all appears to have gone well after a marathon 13 hour operation. Speedy recovery to her and hopefully she gets the new lease of life she deserves.

DeVore · 16-09-2011 08:43AM

Here's hoping for a happy ending to this unfortunate story... thoughts are with her and her family.

DeV.

ps: how weird will it (hopefully!) be to grow up and look back at discussion online about your op?

Biggins · 16-09-2011 09:51AM

Meadhbh McGivern in a ‘relatively stable’ condition after 14 hour surgery

MEADHBH MCGIVERN, the Leitrim teenager who missed out on a liver transplant two months ago is in a stable condition after finally undergoing a 14-hour life-saving surgery in London.
Meadhbh’s father Joe has told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme that she is in intensive care in a “relatively stable” condition. Meadhbh is sedated and intubated and could remain like that for more than 24 hours.

The family travelled from their home in Leitrim on Wednesday evening after receiving word that a donor liver had become available. They arrived at Baldonnel with a garda escort in the early hours of Thursday morning.
They travelled to London in the government Lear jet and Meadhbh was in surgery in King’s Hospital in London by 7am.

Joe McGivern has said that the plans this time were “seamless”, describing the transport operation as “precision engineering”. Meadhbh had missed out on the opportunity for a liver transplant in early July when air transport could not be arranged in time.
This time however, there was an aircraft waiting for her, with back up pilots on standby.
Meadhbh’s father said she was delighted when she heard the donor liver had become available but was apprehensive until they were actually airborne. He said there was “a sigh of relief once we were flying out over Dublin Bay”.

Quality of life

Meadhbh’s quaility of life over the past few months has been described as ‘non-existent’. She’s been in a lot of pain and hasn’t been at school since the end of last January.
Her father has said that this transplant should allow her to “make up what she’s missed out on in the short life she’s had so far”.

Doctors at King’s Hospital in London have said that they’re happy with how the surgery went. Meadhbh’s parents were provided with hourly updates throughout the 14-hour operation and Joe McGivern said that as time began to wear on they began to get more anxious, as the usual time frame for a surgery of this kind is between five and eight hours.
Meadhbh will now remain under close observation in the paediatric intensive care unit.