Meet Casey, this year’s Dublin Rose, whose journey with Children’s Health Ireland began over 20 years ago!
Meet Casey, this year’s Dublin Rose, whose journey with Children’s Health Ireland began over 20 years ago in 2001 when she suffered a febrile seizure at 16 months old and was rushed to hospital.
Aug. 16, 2024
Casey Harris, 16 months old
Meet Casey, this year’s Dublin Rose, whose journey with Children’s Health Ireland began over 20 years ago in 2001 when she suffered a febrile seizure at 16 months old and was rushed to hospital.
Casey became an inpatient on Top Flat in CHI at Temple Street while several investigations were done including ultrasound scans and nuclear medicine scans were done. These revealed that she suffered from renal dysplasia of her right kidney. This meant that her right kidney did not grow and had no function, resulting in recurrent infections and multiple hospital admissions for the first 5-6 years of her life.
Casey was a patient of Professor Denis Gill and subsequently Professor Atif Awan and the staff of St. Michael’s C renal unit, until she transitioned to adult services in Nephrology at Beaumont Hospital when she was 16 years of age.
““I have fond memories of being looked after incredibly well by the nurses, doctors and all the staff of Temple Street during my time as a patient there, right up to my teenage years. The medical staff were always so kind and patient with me, despite my regular meltdown at the mention of a blood test. I may be an adult now, but I still need mammy to hold my hand for those!”
Casey is now 24 years old and thriving working as a professional musician, her dream job since she was a little girl! Thankfully, her condition has not restricted her life and her left kidney works hard to make up for the missing one.
She is looking forward to representing her home at this year’s Rose of Tralee Festival and hopes to be a role model to children all over Ireland, especially those in the care of Children’s Health Ireland.
Casey Harris now as this year's Dublin Rose