Family pinning their hopes on US treatment for little Erika

(Above) Erika, right, with her sister, Sasha.

The family of a five-year-old Mullingar girl who has spent her entire life battling a devastating series of illnesses are now pinning their hopes on treatment in the USA in their bid to secure a future for the child.

Little Erika Martin, daughter of Louise Kelly and Joe Martin of Oakcrest, Mullingar, has already received treatment in Germany – but despite initial optimism, her problems returned.

Now, in a race against time, the family want to get Erika to America in the hope that medics there, with access to the latest in technologies, may be able to give Erika a chance at a normal life.

But the costs involved are staggering – estimated at €450,000 for the surgery alone, with a further €200,000 required to cover post-surgery aftercare, travel and accommodation expenses.

In a bid to raise the funds required, Louise’s cousin, Darina Golden, has set up a GoFundMe page – and while €55,000 has been donated to date, that still means another €595,000 has to be raised.

“We are trying all forms of medicine, natural alternatives, very expensive testing and every single thing we can that could possibly save beautiful little Erika’s life,” Darina told the Westmeath Examiner this week.

“We want to be ready to get Erika to America if it becomes an option.”

Darina explains that Erika was born prematurely at 31 weeks and had hydrocephalus and needed a shunt inserted into her brain.

“Erika had many hospital stays over the first three years of her life which included being treated for swine flu and pneumonia. Thankfully, she got through these awful diseases.

“In December 2018, Erika’s shunt in her brain blocked and she underwent brain surgery. Then, her tummy became very swollen for two weeks, which the hospital put down to constipation. However, this was not the case and Erika was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma cancer in her pelvis.

“Erika’s kidneys began to fail and she ended up in the ICU for four weeks where she underwent dialysis. This proves that Erika will fight anything thrown her way!

“Erika then went to Temple Street and had to go through yet another surgery on her brain, as her shunt blocked again due to the size of the tumour in her pelvis.

Erika had 9 cycles of VAC chemotherapy, reconstructive surgery and had 23 sessions of proton therapy in Essen, Germany. In December, Erika got a scan to check the tumour after her radiation in Germany and the scan was totally clear, the cancer was gone.”

On Tuesday April 28, with six months of chemotherapy completed, Erika’s parents’ hopes were high as she went for a scan to check the tumour.

“Devastatingly, we got the news that Erika had relapsed and the tumour had grown in the same spot to 9cm in size,” reveals Darina.

Straight away, Erika had to undergo further chemotherapy in Crumlin hospital.

“After this, we are hoping to go to Amsterdam for further treatment to kill the 9cm tumour inside Erika’s pelvis,” says Darina.

The family has been consulting with a hospital in the US which has the team and the technology capable of removing the tumour fully – that is conditional on it shrinking adequately here.

The family has faced up to the grim reality that Erika’s time may be limited: “If Erika passes before this can happen and Erika needs palliative care, the funds will be used for her palliative care and the remaining funds will be donated to The Gavin Glynn Foundation and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie Charity,” says Darina.

“We have a little warrior in Erika,” she says, adding that Erika’s parents are grateful for all the support they have received to date.

To donate, search for the Get Erika to America page on GoFundMe, or make a bank transfer: IBAN : IE70 BOFI 9018 5321 0620 83; BIC : BOFIIE2D