BY NUALA MCALOON
The first day at school is a special occasion for any child but for four-year-old Patrick Haren from Drumanure outside Derrygonnelly, September 2007 marks a significant milestone as he has defeated all the odds to join eight new pupils entering Miss Helen Gilheaney's Primary One class at Killyhommon Primary School, Boho.
Patrick, the youngest of five siblings, was born with a rare and undiagnosed condition that means his life expectancy and future health remains uncertain.
Following a normal pregnancy for his mother Wendy, Patrick was born a completely flat baby. As a result, he suffers from multiple skeleton difficulties and serious deformities.
He has severe scoliosis, a condition that involves complex lateral and rotational curvature and deformity of the spine. He also has two disfigured hips and deformed feet. He spent the first year of his life in hospital undergoing multiple surgeries, and was allowed to return home at weekends: "I remember bringing him with me to Erneside when he was five months old," Wendy explains.
"I was in the middle off doing my weekly shop when Patrick stopped breathing. It was a frightening experience. The store manager and ambulance were very quick to respond, but Patrick had to be transferred to the Royal. At that stage, he was diagnosed with really bad reflux. One in 10 babies are born with reflux but instead of vomiting, Patrick's got stuck in his lungs so he had to have stomach surgery."
Indeed, it wasn't until five weeks ago that Patrick had a 'mini-button' removed, a feeding tube that was inserted into his stomach through the abdominal wall. It means he is now able to eat small bits of food. Because of his deteriorating spine, he had to undergo high risk spinal surgery last September. Wendy says while she didn't want Patrick to go through it, she was advised that without it, his lungs would eventually suffocate him over time. The surgery involved rods being placed in his back but the operation proved unsuccessful and Patrick was paralysed from the waist down. He had to return to the theatre to have all the surgery reversed.
For the next 12 weeks he had to undergo intensive rehabilitation both at home and at the Royal before he delivered an early festive present and took his first steps again on Christmas Eve last year.
Today, he has a wheelchair and while he finds it hard to manage in an unknown outside location, he can walk comfortably within the confines of his classroom and family environment.
Despite all his difficulties, Patrick continues to conquer all the odds, with school enrolment been his most recent success story to date.
"Patrick is a little miracle," Wendy continues. "He is great, a very happy little boy who is bright and intelligent. He knows what hospitals are for now. He was at playschool for a few months last year and now, at the age of going to school, he really has beaten the odds.
"With Patrick, we don't know what the future is. Because it is so rare, doctors can't tell me what his condition is. It is a one-off, they can't compare him with anyone so they can't come up with anything."
Wendy says that while initially it was hard to physically and emotionally cope with Patrick's condition, once she got used to it, it became easier.
"He is an absolute treasure. Patrick is here for a reason because he has beaten all the odds. And to see him go to school, well, I never I thought I would see that day come."
