Every so often we come across a family story that stops us in our tracks. Finn’s Fund for Walking is one of them — the story of one Dublin dad’s determination to give his son every possible chance to walk. Finn’s father, Michael, shared their journey with us.
Tell Us About Yourself
I’m Michael, born and bred in Dublin, Ireland. I grew up in Terenure village, went to Templeogue College and then Trinity College before starting work at Intel. In 2000 I moved to Munich to experience Europe and work as an IT consultant.
I met and married Claire Williams in 2003 while we were living in London. We were based in Munich until 2007 and finally moved back to Dublin when my company was bought by HP.
Finn arrived in November 2008, and almost straight away we knew there were challenges ahead. He arrived ten weeks early and spent several weeks in intensive care.
Tell Us About Finn
Finn was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, affecting all four limbs, and doctors categorised his condition as severe, with little expectation that he would stand or control his limbs. We weren’t sure at first whether Finn was mentally affected too, but MRI scans confirmed the damage was limited to the physical side only — an incredible blessing, and Finn has grown into a fantastic kid.
He’s a happy child, and we try to fit in as many everyday activities as possible. He has a wicked sense of humour and is just about mastering “Knock Knock” jokes.
He swims independently supported by arm bands and loves showing off how long he can hold his breath. He attends St Pius X Boys National School and has a great bunch of friends in his class, several of whom live in our estate — which leads to noisy boys’ nights in, watching the X Factor together.
What is Finn’s Fund for Walking?
Finn’s Fund is about not accepting the boundaries set out for Finn by the Irish medical system. Honestly, the level of care and specialist treatment available to us in Ireland is limited compared to what’s on offer further afield.
Enable Ireland provides equipment to support Finn’s condition, but doesn’t have the resources to provide the kind of intensive physiotherapy he needs — so we’re determined to provide it ourselves.
We accept that Finn has cerebral palsy and won’t lead a “normal” life, but our thinking is this: through constant physio, swimming, horse riding, and by exploring treatments in Eastern Europe, the UK, Canada and North America — and ultimately SDR surgery — we can increase Finn’s potential ability.
If he learns to use his right hand to support his fine motor skills, or gains the ability to stand aided, even for part of the day, we’ve opened up whole new worlds to him that would otherwise stay out of reach.
How Can People Help?
Even Knowing Helps
Just knowing about Finn’s story is positive, and it helps. One of the things that struck me most was how Finn’s classmates have embraced him, becoming protective of him and instinctively compensating for the things he finds difficult.
Finn was accepted for SDR surgery — Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy — at a specialist hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, an operation designed to reduce Finn’s high muscle tone and spasticity.
At a very high level, the surgeon opens the spine and tests each individual nerve within it. Through this testing, they can identify which nerves have been damaged since birth and which are healthy, then treat the damaged ones so the body is no longer fighting against itself.
The surgery leaves the patient temporarily very weak and floppy, but it removes the constant muscular resistance that had been holding Finn back. Combined with possible calf and hamstring lengthening surgery, the goal was to bring sitting, standing and walking within Finn’s reach — and once he could see what was possible, we believed he’d be motivated to keep pushing past new barriers himself.
The years following surgery were expected to be crucial to Finn’s development, involving intensive physiotherapy and a demanding daily home training programme.
Advice
If any parents have been through SDR surgery themselves, Michael and Claire would love to hear from them.
Supporting Finn’s Journey
At the time, Michael and Claire estimated the total cost of Finn’s treatment and surgery at around $80,000 — none of which was covered by the Irish health system. The family covered the costs personally, with support from family, friends and the wider community, including a benefit concert held in Dublin in Finn’s honour.
You can read more about Finn’s journey, and the family’s original fundraising appeal, on their GoFundMe page, Finn’s Fund for Walking.
If Finn’s story has moved you, consider sharing it. Spreading the word costs nothing, and it’s exactly the kind of support this family set out to find.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Finn’s Fund for Walking?
It’s the fundraising campaign set up by Finn’s parents, Michael and Claire, to cover the cost of intensive physiotherapy and specialist surgery not available to Finn through the Irish health system.
What is SDR surgery?
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy is a surgical procedure in which surgeons test the nerves along the spine and treat the damaged ones, reducing muscle spasticity and tightness. For Finn, the goal was to make sitting, standing and walking more achievable.
Does the Irish health system cover treatments like this?
According to Finn’s family, standard supports and equipment were provided through Enable Ireland, but the level of intensive physiotherapy and the specialist SDR surgery Finn needed weren’t available through the public system in Ireland, so the family funded these themselves with community support.
How can I support a family going through something similar?
Sharing their story, offering practical help, and pointing them towards support organisations can make a real difference — as Michael says, even knowing about a family’s journey helps.
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- Inspiring Kids Who Are Breaking Down Barriers
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