Clare and her son Kieran McGovern
AT JUST 18-years-old, Enniskillen teen Kieran McGovern has undergone some 18 intense operations after he was diagnosed with a rare form of life-threatening meningitis soon after his third birthday.
After miraculously surviving a diagnosis of meningitis coupled with the blood poising disease septicaemia – which can kill in a matter of hours – Kieran has defied the odds and went on to battle through heart, hernia and colostomy operations.
The brave teenager, who attends Willow Bridge School in Enniskillen, is recovering from what is hoped to be his last operation which corrected and shortened one of his legs by 6cm.
Born prematurely at just 24 weeks and weighing in at a tiny 1lb 8 ounces, Kieran had his first operation at two-weeks-old followed by another five before his first birthday.
The meningitis effected the growth of one of his legs after the disease starting eating into one of the knee-plates, meaning Kieran has had to wear a raised shoe to balance his height.
Kieran’s mum Clare explained that the initial operation to fix the knee-plate stopped working.
“He was just three years old when he got meningitis and it started eating into his knee-plates,” she said.
“He had to have an operation to correct that one leg which was growing longer.
“They tried to correct it and straighten it out and they killed the growing plate in the good leg and that worked but it then started growing again.
“He had to get a raise put on his shoe to balance his height. It was a massive operation but he’s so delighted now as he had to wear big massive shoes and he is now wearing regular ones.”
The vast majority of people dread hospital visits, particularly when it’s an operation.
But brave Kieran admits he enjoys the experience of going into hospital for operations but hopes the latest one is the last time he will have to endure the recovery process.
Following Kieran’s diagnosis, he spent some six weeks in the Royal Victoria Hospital, three of which was spent in a coma.
Clare continued: “I think at the time he was the first young boy to contract meningitis and septicaemia in Northern Ireland.
“He had been sick and I thought he had the flu but I noticed he had little spots and I rushed him to hospital in Belfast.
“He is a very happy child and this is they only time he said he doesn’t want any more operations.”
It is expected to take two years before Kieran can walk properly and recover fully from the intense operation.
Clare fondly describes her youngest son as a witty child who is filled with good spirit, and despite suffering from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), Kieran has great ambitions for his future.
She added: “He is working one day a week at a Spar shop and then he hopes to go to South West College or to Parkanaur College in Dungannon.
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