Appeal as four-year-old Donegal boy Zach diagnosed with rare blood disorder
Zach McCrossan has now been referred to the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands and his mother, St Johnston native Patrice (nee Rodgers) is also battling acute myeloid leukemia
A Donegal family have issued an emotional appeal for support to help their four-year-old child undergo specialist treatment in the Netherlands.
Zach McCrossan has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder, a high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) that progresses to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Zach’s only chance is a bone marrow transplant, which isn’t available in Ireland.
He has now been referred to the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands, where he’s expected to be an inpatient for at least three months.
This is just the latest challenge facing the family, including Zach’s father Gary and mother Patrice.
In January 2024, Patrice, nee Rodgers from St Johnston, was diagnosed with AML and had gruelling treatment in Galway University Hospital before going to St James’ Hospital in Dublin.
A bone marrow transplant wasn’t as successful as they had hoped and Patrice, a mother-of-four who is is just 34, undergoes regular donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) and chemotherapy treatments in Dublin to keep her symptoms under control.
In late March, Patrice’s aunt, Jacqueline (Jack) Devenney, who was Zach’s godmother, passed away having battled the same illness.
Little Zach began to show signs of severe fatigue and, after several tests and bone marrow biopsies, he has been diagnosed with MDS.
“Through all of this, our four beautiful children have been staying with family, and our youngest, Tillie, was just seven months old when her mammy got sick,” brave dad Gary, who hails from Letterkenny, said.
“It’s devastating to think of our family being split up once again. We are doing our best to stay strong, but the emotional and financial toll is enormous.
“Patrice will need to continue her own treatments at home while also being there for Zach - and for our other children, Casey, Hollie, and little Tillie.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to aid the family during this difficult time and you can help by clicking here.
Gary added: “We are humbly asking for support to help bring our family to the Netherlands so we can be with Zach during this incredibly difficult time. Whether it's a small donation, a share, or simply keeping us in your thoughts - it all means the world.”