Anonymous benefactor to pay for Jamie's surgery

AN ANONYMOUS benefactor has agreed to pay for private surgery in London for Jamie Murphy, whose family claim was unable to access “life-saving” treatment in Ireland.

Yesterday it emerged that “an ordinary individual”, who was “very moved” after learning about the the Co Kilkenny girl’s plight from extensive media coverage last week, has offered to pay for the surgery.

Carlow-Kilkenny TD Mary White, deputy leader of the Green Party, said she had been contacted by a man at the weekend who made the offer and stipulated that he wished to remain anonymous.

Ms White said that “in very tough, gloomy times this wonderful gift, which has come out of the blue, shows that there are still great people out there”. She was “overwhelmed” by the generosity of the man who would be “writing an enormous cheque”.

Jamie (11), who was born with spina bifida, needs surgery to correct severe and deteriorating scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

Last week her family took her to a private consultant in London after claiming that their daughter’s life was in danger because financial cutbacks at Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin meant unacceptable delays in her getting the necessary operation.

A surgeon in London has agreed to perform the surgery on July 4th. But the family will have to pay for the treatment because Jamie was not referred to Britain’s National Health Service by the HSE and has not qualified for support from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Jamie’s aunt, Triona O’Brien, said the family was “delighted and over the moon” by the “unbelievable news”. Jamie’s mother Emer and her husband Peter Murphy are both unemployed and faced a huge bill for the surgery, which will cost an estimated £50,000 (€59,000), and related expenses including travel and accommodation for accompanying family members.

People in their home town of Graiguenamanagh had launched a series of fundraising initiatives which Ms O’Brien said have now been suspended. She thanked the local community and people from all over Ireland who had supported Jamie, and Ms White for highlighting the case.