Flinn The Warrior

Flinn’s arrival into this world

Flinn was born on the 25th May 2020 at 33 weeks by emergency C section, Flinn entered this world traumatically and was resituated extensively at birth. The doctors called time of death after 20 minutes of working on Flinn, he then miraculously took his first breath. He entered this world fighting and was immediately taken to ICU to be ventilated and put on life support. We were told the next few hours were critical, as we anxiously waited at home with our families. The candles lighting, the rosary beads out praying to God & Padre Pio he would pull through, waiting on that call was agony. They were advised to Baptise baby Flinn immediately, we got to be with them through Zoom. The emotions and tears we shed that day will forever be with us. The doctors advised Jason & Louise to call in the immediate family to meet Flinn say hello and say their goodbyes, but he just kept fighting. As the covid restrictions were in full force this was a very difficult time. We were trying to support Jason & Louise as best, we could. The next few hours, days, and weeks went by in a Blur. Flinn had a daily battle of being taken off life support, only to be resuscitated minutes later and put back on ventilation. This battle continued and Flinn fought every day for the next 8 weeks in NICU. Louise & Jason were given numerous diagnoses always telling them to make memories and cherish every moment with Flinn as tomorrow was never promised.

Flinn The Warrior

But in true Flinn style, he fought a battle every doctor said he was never supposed to win. Our Dad gave him the nickname “Flinn the Warrior”.

Crumlin Children's Hospital

We were told Flinn was being transported to Crumlin Children's Hospital on the 17th of July 2020. We anxiously waited on word that he had arrived safely, but the phone call was to tell us Flinn had been resuscitated upon arrival and that was the start of Flinn’s journey in Crumlin. This proved to be a longer journey than we all anticipated. We were told Flinn was in Heart Failure, his lungs were drowning in fluid, and it had travelled to his head causing his head to swell. As his heart was weak and couldn’t process the fluid around his body so this was affecting all of Flinn’s organs. At this point Flinn was diagnosed with a genetic disorder Noonan’s Syndrome RAF-1, Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, Lung Lymphnosia and Total Gastro intolerance, as time went on, he was also diagnosed with hydrocephalus, Severe Scoliosis and Skin conditions among some. Each week brought more attempts to save Flinn’s life and after numerous operations and every test possible, we never knew if that day would be his last. Our poor little warrior was going through hell and there was nothing we could do. We all felt so helpless.

First Time at Home

Miracles do happen. Flinn was allowed home for a couple of days in September 2020 after more than 100 days we finally got to meet our little warrior. Walking up their driveway the excitement we felt to see him for the first time and not be on a screen but looking through the sitting room window. To be that close to him for the first time just took our breath away and again the emotions of the day were unbelievable. Unfortunately, this was very short-lived as his lungs collapsed at home and he went into respiratory failure and ended up back in ICU, this among other things caused Flinn to spend a lot of his 1st year in hospital and fighting for his life on a ventilator.

Starting to see the Light

In November 2020 his mam Louise came across a Trial Drug in Canada, through his amazing Cardiologist, Flinn got the go-ahead to be put on the drug when he was in ICU. This was a last attempt to save his life. He was the first child in Europe to receive this miracle drug for a child with his diagnosis. Within a month Flinn had received his first dose of this revolutionary new drug and it felt like our prayers were finally answered. Flinn started to improve within days. He was taken off life support and breathing for himself with the help of oxygen. Flinn had finally left ICU and was off to the Heart Centre and we all had a new sense of hope things were finally looking up and Flinn was fighting all the way. With the help of the doctors and nurses, the aim was to now get Flinn home to his brothers and family and spend some quality time enjoying every minute with him. Nobody knew at this time Flinn’s life expectancy, and we were told to enjoy our time with Flinn and to make as many memories as possible.

“Life is not about how many breaths you take but the moments that take your breath away”.

This is only a snippet of all our little warrior Flinn has been through in the short amount of time that he has been with us. Each and every time he fights like the true warrior he is. Flinn as of today is now living with numerous life-limiting diagnoses and because Flinn has spent so much of his time in ICU, ventilated and sedated he is cognitively and physically on par with a 6-month-old. However, whilst his medical conditions are being managed and kept stable with medication and various other medical therapies, Flinn still spends a lot of time travelling to and from Crumlin Hospital and this will be ongoing as Flinn is living in Heart Failure, unfortunately at the moment a heart transplant is just not an option for Flinn.

But as always Flinn defies all the odds, he always has and always will. His strength and resilience are incredible and it’s something that has thought us all how precious life is.

Flinn is just the most amazing, lovable beautiful little boy and he has changed all our lives for the better. His little smile fills our hearts with pure love and admiration and he deserves every opportunity to grow, laugh and learn more.

This is where we now take over the Fight from Flinn.

Flinn has fought SO hard to be here and with the help of all our family & friends, we want to do everything possible to support Flinn with the many challenges that he faces every day.

As we approach his 3rd Birthday with such overwhelming happiness and pride at just how far he has come. He is our true meaning of a superhero.

Help us to build a brighter future for Flinn.

All funds kindly raised or donated will be used to cater for Flinn’s growing needs and we are hoping to help with;

Would we be so grateful for your Help & Support.

Thanks a million,