A daughter’s plea for her terminally ill Dad

A NORTHSIDE woman has launched a campaign to raise money to purchase a lift for her terminally ill Dad.

In November 2013, Jennifer Garbutt’s father, Michael, aged 60, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). According to Jennifer, his life expectancy is approximately two years.

Four and a half years ago, Mr Garbutt and his wife, Linda, moved into a one-bedroom flat, with an extension, in a two-storey senior citizens’ complex at Mount Dillon Court, Artane.

Unfortunately for Mr Garbutt, his flat is located on the upper floor and there is an external stairway comprising 15 steps which he has to climb before he can reach his front door.

As Mr Garbutt is wheelchair-bound, it is not possible for him to get up and down these steps. Consequently, he is housebound and has no quality of life.

On the days that he needs to leave home for hospital appointments, Mr Garbutt’s family is forced to seek help to get him down the steps and back up them when he returns home.

The family asked Dublin City Council could it provide a platform lift at the complex. It’s estimated that the cost of the type of lift required is in the region of e15,000 to e16,000.

In a letter sent to Jennifer and seen by Northside People, Dublin City Council said:

“Permission has been granted for you to have the lift installed at the complex but certain conditions must be noted at this time.

“Firstly, all the tenants residing in the upper floor of the complex must be informed by you of the proposed works and all these residents must be in agreement to have the works carried out.

“All costs involved in the installation, maintenance and removal of this lift must be borne by you privately.

“It must be noted that if any damage is done to the fabric of the existing stairs or at the complex as a result of the installation or eventual removal of this equipment, any costs involved to make good the fabric/structure of the area will be the responsibility of the tenant.

?

Jennifer pointed out that the lift would not only be for her Dad but could also be used by other senior citizens living on the upper floor.

The family have now set up a campaign entitled

‘Mick’s Fight For A Lift’. Jennifer said they have received a Garda permit to hold a bucket collection outside Croke Park during this weekend’s All-Ireland football matches.

They are also planning to hold a number of other fundraisers locally in the coming weeks.

“We are urging anyone to help if they possibly can to give my father some quality of life in his remaining days,

? Jennifer said.

Ironically, Mr Garbutt formerly worked for Dublin City Council, as a school warden (Lollipop Man).

“Quite honestly, my father is a shell of the man he used to be,

? Jennifer told Northside People.

“He was a very active man and was always out doing something as well as being a school traffic warden. He is a Dub through and through and was involved in GAA since he was a kid. He was a member of Craoibh Chiarian GAA Club in Donnycarney as a player and a mentor.

“He loved the community so he became a Lollipop Man, and was delighted when he got his own patch for this job within walking distance of his flat.

Jennifer added:

“Now he’s lucky if he can sit on the walkway outside the flat for a smoke.

“For our family to see him spend his last days stuck in his home is a horrible situation to be in.

?

A spokesman for Dublin City Council told Northside People it did not comment on individual cases.

However, he said:

“In certain cases, especially in relation to our older senior citizen apartment complexes, which have external stairways with communal deck access, applicants with reduced mobility, in order to maximise their independence and quality of life, are offered a transfer to a more suitable unit at ground floor level.

?

Meanwhile, donations to the Garbutt family’s fundraising campaign can be made at the AIB Bank in Artane. The account is called

‘Mick’s fight for a lift’. The Account Number is: 37916062 and the Sort Code: 93-20-78. You can also donate through Paypal. The account is: [email protected]