Tracy’s mission to get brave Joey on Late Late Toy Show

AN O’Brien’sbridge community activist is pulling out all the stops to try and get a ten year-old boy battling a rare form of brain cancer to appear on the Late Late Toy Show.

Tracy Howard has organised a series of fundraising ventures and drive-bys to show the huge support in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina for Joey Moran, who lives in the neighbouring village of Portroe.

In a bid to give a “courageous warrior” a huge boost, Tracy joked she is “stalking” Ryan Tubridy and using every contact she has to get Joey on the Late Late Show.

“I have emailed the Toy Show, I have emailed Ryan Tubridy himself and his radio show. I have a cousin who hopes to seek him out at an event he is attending in a few weeks. However, I do it, I want him on the Toy Show. If I have to sleep outside Ryan Tubridy’s house in Dublin, I will do it.”

She has also arranged a series of coffee mornings to raise funds for Joey. The first one takes place in the Boruma Bar and Restaurant, Ballina this Friday from 12 noon and the Talbot Nenagh will host one the following day from 11am.

Drive-by coffee and refreshments will be available outside Nuala Conway’s house at Crossroads, Killaoe on Thursday, September 29, from 9.30am before a similar indoor event in Tony’s Bar Bridgetown from 11 the same day.

The final one takes place in Tracy Howard’s house in O’Brien’sbridge V94HVF7 on Saturday, October 1 from 11am.

School Food Company, Ballysimon, Limerick is sponsoring the coffee mornings.

Last May, Joey received a big surprise when Daniel La Russo, aka Ralph Macchio from the Karate Kid and Cobra Kai sent him a personal video message, which was organised by Oscar Kids.

Ralph thanked him for being a super fan of the series Cobra Kai and Karate Kid, the movie.

“I have heard from a few people you are a big fan of the show. I want you to know I am thinking of you. I know you have some challenging times ahead, but I know you are going to slay it.”

Tracy recalled Joey had to resume chemotherapy due to the results of an MRI a few months after his third operation to remove a brain tumour.

Joey has struck up a friendship with Jayden Conway, who recently had a kidney transplant.

Tracy believes this is very beneficial because two children who have been through major operations can share their own experience and talk their own language to each other.

“I hope the two boys can set up a support group for children in the future that will help other kids in the same situation. Jayden and Joey are very good friends.”

When Joey lost the power in his right hand, he had to learn how to use his left hand to play his x box, which acts as physiotherapy, keeps his mind active and helps him to connect with other children.

Tracy praised the determination Joey has shown to overcome numerous obstacles such as losing some of the power in this right hand.

“Joey is getting better using his left hand because he is a very determined mature child. An adult wouldn’t go through what Joey has experienced. Having a brain tumour is very difficult to deal with.

“I saw my father, Matt Simms suffer with a brain tumour for two years. My dad was brilliant. It is a difficult disease to have.

“My father, didn’t go through half of what Joey has gone through. The first year of Joey’s tumour coincided with Covid-19 when there was a strict lockdown,” she said.

Last March, Joey got Covid-19 but managed to recover.

His parents Emma and Alan are trying to keep Joey to the most normal routine between treatment and scans. Joey has defied all medical predictions by walking after a number of major operations.

On September 27, 2020, his parents were informed their son had a high grade Glioma (PXA) Anaplastic pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma, on the left anterior parietal region.

Joey had a left temporal-Carniectomy first surgery on September 19, 2020, which was followed by his second surgery on September 30, 2020 that involved a near total tumour resection and cranioplasty with synthetic bone flap. This has left Joey with a slight weakness to his right side of the body.

He completed radiation therapy for the maximum course of 30 sessions and chemotherapy for 42 days.

During his treatment, Joey began to show symptoms that he first presented with, and an MRI in Crumlin Hospital showed the tumour had began to regrow.

Recently, Emma recalled Crumlin Hospital in Dublin decided to reduce Joey’s chemotherapy to two weeks on and two weeks off in the hope he will recover faster.

It is expected this will be reviewed at the end of the month. Plans are being put in place to get a palliative care team and a support worker to link in with the family.

Emma stated Crumlin are hoping that Joey will bounce back after his time in the hospital as he has lost a lot of weight and is very thin. Another MRI is planned for November 28, with the results expected on December 5.

People who wish to make donations to the fundraising events can contact Tracy Howard on 085 1528912. Donations can also be made to Joey Moran’s gofundme page at www.gofundme.com- Joey