‘Why do kids have to have cancer?’

The parents of a nine year old boy with leukemia have described how they drove to Dublin just one hour after their son’s diagnosis so that he could begin chemotherapy.

Darragh Nolan from Cork city was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2019 after experiencing pains in his legs and arms.

Now, three and a half years later, Darragh has become the face of the Sprinkle a Little Magic appeal by Barretstown, a not for profit camp for children with cancer and other serious illnesses in Kildare.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Darragh’s parents say they had never heard of the camp until Barretstown stepped in with an invitation while Darragh was at Crumlin.

Paola said: “When he first went to Barretstown, it was at the lowest point of his treatment. He was very weak, his morale was very low. He was starting to ask us some very tough questions like, ‘why do kids have to have cancer?’.”

Since attending the camp, Darragh’s parents say his confidence has increased greatly and that he has begun to smile again.

Karl said: “It's an amazing place and for being so dependent on public funds, it's incredible what they manage to achieve. That's why, when this opportunity came up for Darragh to be the poster boy for Christmas, we said if there’s anything better than being able to give a donation, it’s to make donations happen.

“It gives you hope, it shows you the bright side of things. When we say how much he smiled during his time there, we just thought, this place is magic. It's all very fine to be getting medicine, but the mind needs medicine as well.”

When Darragh first presented with pains in his legs and then his arms in 2019, it was initially thought to be growing pains, but after a number of visits to CUH, Darragh’s parents say the paediatrician began to get worried.

Paola said: “We were told they needed to rule out the 'nasties' as they called it. Then they gave us the bad news that he actually has leukemia. It came as a shock because we were just expecting maybe an infection or something that could be treated easily.”

After the diagnosis, Karl says the family’s world was turned upside down but that now, with Darragh in the maintenance phase of his treatment, things have stabilised.

Karl said: “He practically had his own room in the Mercy because he had no immunity, he was picking up every infection that you could imagine. It has been three and a half years consumed in his childhood, that's the tough part. We try to bring positivity out in everything without dwelling on the fact that he has to sometimes take 15, 16 items of medicine in a day.”

Karl and Paola say they have been blown away by nine year old Darragh’s resilience and the maturity he has shown since becoming ill.

“He's a trooper like. The sense of maturity that he has. He continues to amaze myself and Paola every day, just how he's sucked it up and just learned to deal with it,” said Karl.

Paola added: “Sometimes he'll even remind you what his dosage is for today.

“Sometimes he gives me advice like, this is the way the nurse does it. He just gets on with it and he knows everything that's happening. His resilience is just amazing. I don't know how he does it to be honest.”

According to Karl and Paola, Darragh’s school friends at the Rochestown Educate Together have played a big role in Darragh’s recovery.

Paola said: “His friends at school have been great for him. He has the same set of friends since junior infants.” Karl adds that Darragh’s friends are extremely protective of him and support him when he has to take his medicine, recalling one of them saying: “If you take your tablets now, we'll be able to go out and play.” Darragh and his parents hope to return to Barretstown soon, restrictions permitting.

Speaking about the charity’s Christmas Appeal, Dee Ahearn, CEO of Barretstown, said: “After another tough year, we will all be looking forward to some quality time this Christmas. These difficult times, make us all cherish the true importance of family and good health.”

Barretstown reopened its doors in June and has since welcomed hundreds of children and their families back to the camp. The Covid-19 crisis, however, has meant the charity had to cancel many of its key fundraising events again in 2021.

These events provide crucial income for the charity which relies on the public to provide 97 per cent of the funds that make their work possible. As a result, Barretstown has an income shortfall of €1.5 million since Covid began, and a fundraising target of €5.8 million for 2021. To help more children like Darragh and his family, Barretstown is asking the public to “sprinkle a little magic” by making a donation at barretstown.org.