A few clicks could save a little boy's life..

Apr 07, 2023

Good morning on this Good Friday – the beginning of the Easter break for a lot of you. While it’s a welcome break for many, today just marks the beginning of another anxious wait for the family of a young Co Armagh boy, waiting for a call which could save his life.

This week we spoke to Danny Browne from Bessbrook, whose eight-year-old son, Bobby, is in a battle for his life. Bobby is technically in remission from leukaemia but an innovative new cell treatment therapy is no longer working and any relapse – which is higher than high risk – could be devastating. Bobby’s only hope is for a bone marrow transplant.

Devastating is the word Danny used to describe the whole ordeal for Bobby and the family but that word, I feel, only carries so much weight when written from our perspective of an interview – second hand, if you will.

While the emotion can be conveyed in the written word, the rawness of Danny’s words on the phone were truly gut-wrenching. They really, really hit hard.

He and his wife Louise are desperate for help. You can feel it; it’s heartbreaking. You don’t know what to say, what can you say? You want so much for it to work out for Bobby – it feels selfish in a way but what if we could make that little difference? What if our words, which could only convey a fraction of their pain, make a difference.

This is why we are again asking you, the reader – if you haven’t already - please sign up to become a donor. It might change Bobby’s life – it might change the lives of some other family somewhere in the world. A couple minutes of your time could give so much more time..

You can register as a donor here https://www.dkms.org.uk/register-now

Or here https://www.anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/join-stem-cell-register

Headlines

Searches in Tandragee as PSNI join FBI to take down worldwide criminal marketplace

Newry dad and recovering alcoholic giving back to charity that saved his life

DUP council candidate ‘not deterred’ after sectarian abuse in Armagh city

Police appeal after vehicle stolen in Lurgan and crashed

People in need in Armagh has increased ‘more and more’ says food outreach team

City of Armagh’s promotion to top division pinnacle of a remarkable 12-year journey

Cancer survivor Michelle ‘giving back after second chance at life’

Katie Simpson murder accused has rape charge added as case delayed again

Thieves continue to target vehicles overnight in Lurgan

Man caught daubing ‘IRA’ on Portadown building smeared paint in cell van

Co Armagh dad’s desperate plea for someone to help save eight-year-old son’s life

Education Authority exploring alternative sites after Lisanally School summer scheme axed

Southern Trust record deficit of £2million despite predictions of breaking even

Look back

In 2021 a unique purpose-built cancer centre opened in Craigavon Area Hospital for the enhancement of cancer diagnosis and treatment services. A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "The Macmillian Building, as it is named, is the first purpose built cancer unit in Northern Ireland and the 100th building in the UK for the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity.”

At the time of opening it was reported that the unit could accommodate up to 12 patients a day, then, in 2019 with the investment of £3.37 million into a new Aseptic suite, services were upgraded to help patients receive their treatment ‘much more quickly’.

Whilst the advancement of hospital services are vital in the fight against cancer, many people still ponder the age old question; is cancer curable?

It has long been the subject of hot debate and 163 years ago, in 1860, The Armagh Guardian published one reader’s thoughts regarding a potential ‘fig poultice cure’. The reader’s thoughts are included here for interest: “It was given by a lady about two months ago, and immediately sent it to lady suffering most severely, and who had been under one of the most eminent medical men in London.

“I have been lately informed that she is rapidly recovering and, I am assured, simply by the use of fig poultice.”

Whilst the reader makes the suggestion that figs may represent a cure for cancer, here we are 163 years later, still desperately searching for a definitive answer. The debate of Modern medicine vs Homeopathic is particularly contentious with patients on both sides of the fence avidly endorsing their individual experiences. We would be keen to hear your thoughts on this, feel free to leave a comment.

Competitions

Congratulations to Carol Murphy, you are this week’s winner of a pair of cinema tickets! Contact our office on 02837 443 043 to arrange collection. To enter click here

This week as well as our popular Omniplex giveaway we have also teamed up with The Market Place Theatre to give away a pair of tickets to the hilarious ‘A Happy Medium’ starring May McFettridge on April 27. Click here to enter!