I am a mother  desperate for the welfare of my daughter, Katie.

Katie is living with Cerebral Palsy, a dysplastic hip, retroverted pelvis and twisted femur.  Unfortunately, this procedure is not available to Katie in Ireland where she lives. Instead, it is only done by specialist surgeons in the United States. This has left us with a heart-wrenching choice - to let our daughter suffer or strive to provide her with the necessary medical intervention.

The lack of a specialist surgeon in Ireland  puts us, and many other families in similar situations, at a significant disadvantage. It burdens us with hefty travel and treatment expenses which are not covered by our health system. In a 2017 research in the United States, it was estimated that the average cost of medical treatment abroad can rise to thousands.  This is simply not affordable to many Irish families like ours.

Irish citizens should not be left to face such dire circumstances alone. If the medical infrastructure in Ireland can’t provide needed care, the government should have systems in place to ensure families are not driven to financial ruin in an attempt to access life-changing or life-saving treatments for their loved ones. This gap in our health care system needs to be addressed urgently.

We are calling on the Irish Government to establish a policy that funds overseas treatment when no local surgeon is available. This financial aid should cover the full cost of treatment in addition to travel and accommodation expenses for the patient and one caretaker.

This is not just about Katie. This policy will save countless lives and spare families the impossible choice between financial stability and the health of their loved ones. Please lend your voice to our plea and help us create a future where everyone has access to the medical services they need, regardless of where these services are found. Sign this petition now!