My name is Sam Hogan and I am Mum to Isabella age 5, who has a rare neurological condition called Aicardi syndrome and requires 24 hour care.
When Isabella was around 18 months, Sam set up the Extra Special Kids group to offer support to mums all over Ireland. The group now has over 160 members who share a wealth of knowledge, experience, support and friendship.
Isabella attends Temple St Children’s Hospital, with regular appointments at least 10 times in a year as well as hospital admissions, visits to A & E, adding up to at least 30 days in any year minimum.
Sam and her family are very familiar with the challenges of attending a city centre hospital with poor access and limited parking, and believes the Connolly site would “tick all the boxes” and would be a “fairy-tale” for the sick children of Ireland.