Garvey’s SuperValu, Castleisland Supporting The Lily Daly Foundation

Staff members at Garvey’s SuperValu promoting their collection for the Lily Daly Foundation, from left: Helen Greaney, Sheila McCarthy, Shirley Eager, Amy Cotter, Clare Cox, Ruth Horgan and Sinéad Scanlon. ©Photograph: John Reidy

Management and staff at Garvey’s SuperValu in Castleisland are currently conducting a bucket collection for The Lily Daly Foundation (LDF).

The foundation was set up in memory of Lily Daly with the aim to support and help as many families as possible in hospital who have children with heart related issues.

The LDF goal is to raise funds to provide supports and services to the families with loved ones in hospital with heart related issues by running public fund-raising events which the LDF plans to run over the coming years.

First Operation at 10 Weeks

Little Lily Daly was born on June 21st 2019. When she was seven weeks old she entered in to a world that became so familiar to both Lily and her parents for the next two years and that was the Heart Centre in CHI Crumlin. Lily had her first open heart surgery at 10 weeks old.

Her parents were told the outcome would be 50/50 but thankfully the surgery was successful, and Lily and her family returned home to Kerry in October 2019.

Four weeks later, Lily and her parents were back up to Dublin in a traumatic ambulance blue light journey supported by a Garda escort.

Most Devastating News

Lily’s parents were told the most devastating news that Lily had scar tissue around her heart resulting in a very rare condition known as Pulmonary Vein Stenosis a condition that unfortunately there is no cure.

Lily’s parents were devastated and like any parent could not accept this news and did not accept it. Lily refused to give up and in conjunction with support from The New York Presbyterian hospital Lily underwent further Heart surgery that December in Crumlin. The best Christmas present was returning home to Kerry just in time for Santa on Christmas Eve.

More Trips to Crumlin

Lily and her parents had several more trips to the Heart Centre in Crumlin after this and many overnight stays. It became a familiar and safe place for Lily and her Family. On each long term stay at the hospital Lily’s family were fortunate to avail of the services of the Ronald McDonald House which became a Home away from home.

In August 2020 Crumlin advised that they had exhausted all medical options available to them. Thankfully Lily got to travel to New York Presbyterian Hospital in November 2020 and underwent extensive open-heart surgery to remove the scar tissue.

Keeping Lily’s Memory Alive

On Friday, February 26th 2021 Lily Daly’s amazing blue eyes closed for the last time. Her devasted parents vowed to keep her memory alive and inform the world of Lily’s special character and difficult challenge and also to help other parents and families with sick children.

Lily’s mom Caroline added “Some people never meet their heroes but I gave birth to mine. So from this The Lily Daly Foundation was born”.

The Lily Daly Foundation is currently at an early stage but the aim is to support families going through similar challenges and journeys Lily and her family went through.

Building on Lily’s Foundation

The Lily Daly Foundation plans to run events over the next few years to build on the foundation and to support families in hospital with heart related issues.

The proceeds raised will be directed to both the Heart Centre in Crumlin Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House – two facilities which Lily and her family have a strong association with.

You’ll see the buckets strategically placed throughout Garvey’s SuperValu and, if you can, do please support the charity in memory of a brave little Kerry girl.

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