Kildare family raising funds for Jack & Jill in memory of little Croíadh

A Kildare family are raising funds for the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation in memory of their loved one.

Sinead and Shane Carton, Kilcock, along with their two children Sadhbh and Matthew have joined up with their extended family to help raise vital funds for the foundation.

In 2010 the couple’s second daughter Croíadh was born with a life limiting condition, Patau’s syndrome. Croíadh’s diagnosis meant that she had a number of serious health concerns that required round the clock care.

Typically, these children may be tube fed, oxygen dependent, may not sleep, take seizures, need a lot of medication and require around-the-clock care. Understandably, their parents can be exhausted and need a break, which is where Jack and Jill comes in, by providing in-home nursing care giving parents the chance to rest and recoup. Another key part of the service is end-of-life-care for all children up to the age six, irrespective of diagnosis, empowering parents to take their child home to die at this most difficult time.

Croíadh lived for seven weeks and one day and was initially cared for in hospital, however because of support from the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation she was able to spend five weeks and one day at home before she passed away.

The charity provides in home nursing care and respite support for families caring for children, up to the age of six, with severe learning disability often associated with complex medical needs.

As a family group they have taken on numerous challenges from Mount Leinster to the Sugarloaf all the time enjoying time together in the outdoors and celebrating Croíadh.

Their most recent ‘Up the Hill’ Challenge took place just a few weeks ago in the Phoenix Park, where once again four generations of the extended family came together to remember Croíadh.

“It is always a big highlight in our family’s calendar every year,” explained mum Sinead. “Even though Croíadh only had a very short time with us, we continue to celebrate her and having this occasion is very important to us. During those five weeks we had Croíadh at home the support from Jack and Jill was invaluable. We are honoured to use this as an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for the charity, so they can continue to help families just like ours.” Alie Sheridan, head of fundraising at Jack and Jill, said: “We really want to extend a massive thank you to the Carton family, for their continued support for Jack and Jill. It is a real privilege for us to be allowed into people’s homes to help care for their most precious children.

“We are always so honoured when families, who despite years passing since they may have availed of our service continue to support us back.” The family have set up an idontate page and anyone looking to support their efforts can visit ‘Support Sinead Carton’s Fundraising Page’.