The local community has rallied to support the family of an 8 year old boy from Wicklow who tragically died after suddenly taking ill just days after breaking his arm
A fundraiser has been launched, with local communities rallying to support the family of an 8-year-old from Co Wicklow, who tragically died after suffering complications just days after he broke his arm at school.
The family had recently moved from Arklow to Rathnew, and Matthew, was rushed to hospital earlier this month after breaking his arm in two places while at school
According to his family, Matthew “was completely fine that day” and the hospital soon sent him home. Matthew’s mum Ciara made arrangements to bring Matthew to Crumlin Hospital to undergo surgery on his broken arm, however, after being admitted to the hospital Matthew became unwell and was given tablets and steroids “but was vomiting all day”.
The eight-year-old was then given a second dose of steroids to ease his symptoms but he was soon having trouble with his breathing.
Matthew was discharged from the hospital but by the following Monday, his condition had rapidly deteriorated and he was having difficulty breathing.
His condition worsened and the youngster stopped breathing, with first responders rushing to the family home to treat him. Matthew was then taken to Crumlin Hospital where he was placed into an induced coma and on life support machine.
Tragically, Matthew passed away on Monday, November 17, with his family at his bedside.
Following his devastating death, Ciara’s sister-in-law, Lauren Frampton, has set up a GoFundMe page to help support the family.
A message shared by Lauren on the fundraising page states: “Matthew was the most loving little boy he was only 8.
“He is missed and loved by so many people Matthew has 2 brothers and 2 sisters and Matthew was the eldest this go fund me is too help Matthews family against the financial stress.
“He was the most heartwarming boy and will be missed and was loved by all who knew him!
“As a community we’ve all pulled together and anything as little as anything would really help this family through this difficult time.”
So far the GoFundMe has raised over €14,00 from more than 500 donations at the time of writing.
Tributes have poured in for the tragic youngster, with a teacher of Matthew’s at his former school, St Joseph’s National School in Arklow, writing in a message shared online: “Ciara I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful little boy Matthew, my heart broke when I heard.
“I was so lucky to have got to know him in the time I worked with him in St. Joseph’s, I used to look forward to seeing his cheeky little smile every day. He was such a happy little boy with so many people who adored him. He was so special! Rest in peace little man.”
Matthew was a pupil at St. Patrick’s National School, with his teachers sharing tributes online praising his kind and beautiful spirt.
Matthew’s funeral was held on Friday at St. Joseph’s Church in Templerainey, Arklow, with his classmates donning t-shirts bearing the slogan ‘Matthew our Hero’.
During the service, St Joseph’s NS principal Corrina Bailey spoke of the undeniable mark Matthew had left on the school community during his time attending the school, revealing: “As principal of St Joseph’s I have the privilege of seeing our pupils grow and learn and bringing their unique light to the school. Earlier this year when Matthew moved to St Patrick’s NS in Wicklow Parish he left a space at St Joseph’s that could never filled.”
She recalled Matthew as a wonderful pupil whose bright smile could light up a room. He took great joy performing at the Arklow Music Festival and was always an eager participant in school outings to the panto and local farms.
She added: “Matthew was a great listener in class and just loved school, loved his friends and loved his teachers.”
