Giving back to the people who supported his sister as she bravely fought cancer aged just four had been Jack McGonigle’s dream for a long time.
Now, the 17-year-old, whose younger sister Katie Mai is in remission from leukaemia, is doing just that as he trains to become a camp leader at Barretstown.
He and mum Kay, dad Shane and 15-year-old brother Charlie had their world shattered nine years ago. They had no idea then that Katie’s battle would lead to some of their greatest experiences together as a family.
Kay says they feel lucky to have been among the 125,000 campers who have benefitted from Barretstown over the years. Founded by Hollywood actor Paul Newman in 1994, the custom-built children’s paradise was inspired by the ‘Hole in the Wall Camps’ in the US which also offer retreats for seriously ill children.
Kay, who lives in Tipperary, said the family will give back to Barretstown for as long as they can. “My son Jack is training to be a camp leader and will be volunteering at Barretstown soon,” she said.
“My other son Charlie isn’t old enough yet, but he has promised to volunteer as soon as he is old enough. Katie Mai continues to go to the camps every year. She recently came back from a trip to the Hole in the Wall camp in Connecticut for a week.
“They brought 10 kids there who were ill. Everything was paid for from her flights to accommodation.
Barretstown have done so much for us over the years. Katie Mai is so confident as a result. She’s really into music and sport. She knows she’s lucky to be alive.
Kay’s first introduction to Barretstown was during a visit to Crumlin Children’s Hospital with Katie Mai. “There were activity leaders who came to the hospital as part of an outreach programme. They do that on a regular basis. She explained to me about what Barretstown was about.”
The period leading up to that point had been steeped in anxiety and hopelessness for Kay and her husband Shane. “Katie Mai’s diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia came as a huge shock to us.
“The day before her diagnosis she was jumping around outside in a muddy puddle. I still have the photographs to prove it. However, I noticed there were bruises on her legs from her knees down to her ankles. My husband told me not to worry, that she was just a little tom boy.
“I guess it was a mother’s intuition. I can’t describe the pain after the two consultants and a nurse came into the room to tell us that our daughter had cancer. It’s the most devastating news that any parent could ever imagine.”
Barretstown helped them through the gruelling two and a half years of Katie Mai’s treatment.
“It gives children the opportunity to do all kinds of things, including arts and crafts and archery, even when they’re sick.
I mean it when I say that Barretstown held us together as a family.
She also lauded their medical facilities. “They address the psychological and emotional needs of all sick children. There is even a medical shed.
“Katie was on a low form of chemo and they were able to administer it at the camp. If she had a high temperature in the middle of the night they would look after it and it would be their call to send her to Crumlin. The nurses are very much aware of all the different illnesses.”
Kay is urging people to donate to the charity so that as many families as possible can benefit from its services. With just 4% government funding, the charity requires €10 million each year to keep its operations going.
“We have so much fun every time we go there. It’s a magical place where people dance around the table before their meals arrive. Anyone with a seriously ill child needs to avail of the happiness that’s there.”
To donate to the organisation visit barretstown.org.
