Billy Caldwell and other medically 'exiled' families hoping to meet with US president elect
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Four families from Northern Ireland, currently exiled in Chicago with their sick children, hope to meet US president elect, Barack Obama, within the next few weeks.
This is a follow-up meeting after an initial briefing given to the then candidate back in September of this year.
The families of Billy Caldwell, from Omagh, Katie Maguire, from Magherafelt, Carter Buchanan, from Holywood, and Niamh McKenna, Belfast, are all currently resident in Chicago, as their children receive treatment for life-threatening intractable epilepsy.
All of the children had previously been deemed to have little chance of survival until, that is, they travelled to Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital and underwent a series of diagnostic tests under the supervision of world-renowned epitologist, Dr Nordli.
Having been given hope for the first time, the families united in Chicago over the weekend and have sought a meeting with the president elect, who is still in town putting together his new administration.
Gary McCann, father of Katie Maguire, spoke personally with Mr Obama in September.
The Billy Caldwell Foundation, set up in October this year by Charlotte Caldwell, Billy's mother, and launched by the First and Deputy First Ministers at Parliament Buildings, organised the event where the families could get together and offer each other advice and support.
Fundraising initiatives for the foundation include a charity gala ball on December 22 in the Mellon Country Hotel, and a house raffle, which went stateside this week, with tickets for the three-bedroom property in Garrison, Co Fermanagh, priced at £100 or $175.
Representatives from the foundation are currently in Chicago meeting other senior personnel from across the government, education and health sectors.
Anne Monaghan, spokesperson, said: "For nearly 18 months Billy Caldwell's mum Charlotte has been lobbying politicians of all levels in Northern Ireland to have the essential services provided at home. Gary McCann, Katie Maguire's father, has also met the Health Minister and as a result of the inaction on Michael McGimpsey's part, the familes now plan to meet President Elect Obama to inform him there has been no progress in their cases and they have no option but to continue to live in exile in the US."
For information on the gala ball or house raffle, visit www.billycaldwellfoundation.com, or contact Anne Monaghan on 07777676517.
