Baby Katie to meet President Elect
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Exiled in Chicago, (L-R) Mikela and Katie Maguire, Eunan and Niamh McKenna, Charlotte and Billy Caldwell, Emma and Carter Buchanan.
THE parents of Baby Katie Maguire are hoping to meet United States President Elect Barack Obama over the coming weeks.
Katie's father Gary McCann has already had a private telephone conversation with Barack back in September before his election.
Mr McCann and Katie's mother Mikela Maguire have been in the US since the summer while Katie received treatment from world renowned epilepsy experts at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
Three other families from Northern Ireland currently exiled in Chicago with their sick children also hope to meet the President within the next few weeks. The Caldwell family from Omagh, Carter Buchanan's family from Holywood and the family of Niamh McKenna from Belfast are all currently in Chicago with their children who are receiving life saving treatment for severe, intractable epilepsy.
Gary McCann was thrilled when he got the chance to talk to Barack Obama personally, "We were delighted when he took the time out to hear what was happening. He gave me the number of his senators office in Chicago so we could keep in touch," he said.
“We know he's still in Chicago while he sets up his new administration before he becomes president in January. We're hoping to catch a meeting with him while he's still in town.
“We've basically run out of options at this stage so it could be massive news for us to have some support from Barack Obama," continued Mr McCann.
All the children had previously been given little chance of survival until they travelled to Children's Memorial Hospital and underwent a series of diagnostic tests under the supervision of world renowned epitologist Dr. Nordli.
Each family had to pay for the expensive treatments themselves by fundraising because the NHS will not cover treatment outside Europe.
The Billy Caldwell Foundation, which was set up in October this year, and was launched by the First and Deputy First Ministers at Parliament Buildings, organised the event where the families could get together and offer each other advice and support.
Representatives from the Foundation are currently in Chicago meeting other senior personnel from across the government, educational and health sectors.
Anne Monaghan, spokesperson for the Foundation, said, "For nearly eighteen months Billy Caldwell's mum Charlotte has been lobbying politicians of all levels in Northern Ireland to have the essential services provided at home. Gary McCann, Katie Maguire's father, has also met the Health Minister and as a result of the inaction on Michael McGimpsey's part. The families now plan to meet President Elect Obama to in form him there has been no progress in their cases and they have no option but to continue to live in exile in the US".
