Liam Ryan is a very happy, contented eight-year old who lives with his parents, Niamh and Gerry Ryan and his twin brother Sean, in Portlaoise. Niamh and Gerry are both former Senior players with Saint Judes GAA Club. Niamh was GPO of the club between 2001 and 2006 upon which Niamh and Gerry moved to Portlaoise for work-related reasons. Sean, Liam’s twin, leads the normal, healthy life of an eight-year old, while Liam requires 24-hour care and attention.
Liam has no use of his limbs, cannot see properly or speak, has severe breathing difficulties, suffers from Epilepsy, and is fed his nutrition and medication through a tube. He takes 26 separate doses of 14 different medications every day, when he is well. When unwell, he requires additional antibiotics, steroids, nebulisers and oxygen. He attends regularly at the Central Remedial Clinic, Temple Street and Portlaoise Hospitals. He also attends the Kolbe School inPortlaoise, which he loves and continues to make progress.
As Liam is getting taller and heavier, it is getting more difficult and dangerous to lift him up and down stairs. Converting the downstairs playroom is the only option to ensure Liam’s continuing quality of life and wellbeing.
This will require :
-a new ceiling that would accommodate a tracking hoist needed to lift Liam from wheelchair to bed, to bath, etc.,
-a specially-adapted bathroom with changing facilities,
-a bedroom with Bi-pap machine, oxygen and suction machines, and heart-rate monitors.
-a hospital bed,
-storage for medical equipment and supplies.
All of these necessary changes and improvements essential to Liam’s care must meet very high required standards and regulations and will be done in consultation with his Occupational Therapist and other professionals.
Liam’s medical diagnosis includes :
-Severe Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy
-Laryngotracheo brochomalacia
-Cortical Visual Impairment
Liam Ryan Trust 