'I am incredibly frustrated'- Young girl with cerebral palsy on 15 year battle with HSE

An Irish mother has called out for financial aid for her young teenage daughter after fighting over 15 years for surgery in Ireland.

Cork native Katie Byrne (19) has cerebral palsy, a dysplastic hip, a twisted femur and a retroverted pelvis and these issues are ongoing since she was 4 years old.

Katie's mother said that surgeons in Ireland won't operate on Katie because "they say she is too weak".

She said that for her daughter "living with Cerebral Palsy hasn’t been easy. It means tight muscles, pain, endless appointments, and battles most people never see".

"We have found a surgeon in the Paley institute in Florida who is ready and waiting to operate on Katie but the cost of surgery and associated costs is coming in at at total of €300,000," Katie's mother said.

In a post on Facebook, Katie's mother said, "nineteen years of strength, resilience and a fight no young person should ever have to face.

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"Katie has lived with hip dysplasia since she was just 3 years and 8 months old.

"For over 15 long years, we have begged and fought for the surgery she needed — only to be met with delays, excuses and closed doors".

In a video posted to a Facebook account called 'Katie's fight to keep walking,' Katie emotionally tells her story and says that she is exhausted trying to get the help she needs.

"I have waited my entire life that I haven't got to be a normal kid...I am a person and I cannot keep doing this...keep sitting here and waiting and taking it".

"You can only be so understanding for 15 years before you get upset and annoyed...I am incredibly frustrated".

Katie's mother said that Irish consultants have now told them that Katie's only option is a full hip replacement.

"That is all they can offer her here....but we refuse to accept that this is the end of the road for her. Because in Florida, Dr. Paley — one of the best orthopaedic surgeons in the world — believes he can preserve Katie’s hip, save it, and give her the chance to walk without pain.

"He can offer her hope when the system here has already given up on her. The only thing standing in our way is the cost. €300,000. That is the price placed on Katie’s independence”.

Katie's mother said that it is a huge amount but it is literally the difference between Katie walking or ending up back in her wheelchair.

"We cannot get to Florida without help. Katie deserves this chance — after everything she has endured, after all the pain she has carried for so long".

A GoFundMe was created for Katei which can be found in the link below.

It has raised €37,005 so far but was created in December 2022.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-katie-get-hip-surgery