Kilkenny family's desperate plea - 'Taoiseach - help us save Will's life!'

The father of a little boy with a rare illness has made a heartfelt appeal for the HSE to fund treatment in America — before his son ends up confined to a wheelchair for life.

Will Moore is just four years old and he suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) — a condition so rare just 110 people in Ireland are thought to be living with the condition.

DMD was, until very recently, a fatal illness. Life expectancy was about 20 years. However, a new treatment in America has been proven to halt the progress of the disease in its tracks —and Will’s family are begging the HSE to fund their son’s treatment.

He has been accepted on to the treatment programme - but at a cost of $3.5 to $4 million.
The HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme only covers treatment in the EU, UK and Switzerland so Philip and Veronica, Will’s parents, are appealing to An Taoiseach Micheál Martin to get the HSE to help their boy. Scroll down to read on...

ABOVE: Veronica, Will and Philip. Picture: Harry Reid

Local TD, Natasha Newsome Drennan, brought the family’s plea directly to An Taoiseach, when she raised the case in the Dáil, and asked that the Minister for Health liaise with the HSE on the matter.

In the Dáil, An Taoiseach said that he thinks the child should get treatment and “if it’s only available in the US we should be doing something about that.”

But at this stage there is no word from the HSE on funding the treatment and with DMD time is of the essence to prevent Will’s further deterioration. Click the NEXT arrows to read on, and find out how you can help.