Fun day out for Emily

DUBLIN’S youngest superhero will be honoured at a great family fun day taking place at St Brigid’s GAA club in Castleknock this Sunday (September 23).

The hero in question is four-year-old Emily McCormack and according to parents Rob and Nikki, she was born with real superpowers.

That’s because despite having multiple serious health complications, she’s a happy soul who has the ability to make everyone she meets fall in love with the energetic, fun loving character she is.

Before Emily was born, Nikki and Rob from Blanchardstown were told to prepare for a very sick child. A routine check-up revealed multiple complications to her heart, lungs, brain and kidneys.

Emily also had conditions such as craniosynstosis (bones in her skull not fusing properly) and was unable to be orally fed.

However, as she grew bigger Emily’s superpowers zapped her heart condition by closing up two holes in her heart and obliterated her kidney reflux too. 

“Throughout all of these challenges in her life, Emily has smiled, laughed and showed us what true love really is,” says Nikki.

“We know she learned all of this from her big sister Mia. The bond they have is simply unbreakable.”

However, having your very own superhero can be challenging, tiring and sometimes tough. During the tough times Emily goes to visit her friends in LauraLynn House for sleepovers, where Nikki describes the care Emily gets as second to none.

“Between the nurses and the volunteers there, Emily constantly receives one-to-one care where they spend their days creating art masterpieces, meeting celebrities like Kodaline, Alan Hughes, Karen Koster to name but a few, and enjoying everything sensory that LauraLynn has to offer.”

Emily's current diagnosis is profound intellectual and physical disability, which gives her the movement and intellect of a six-month-old baby.

Nikki and Rob are raising funds for LauraLynn who each year have to raise €4.2million through donations.

The Family Fun Day at St Brigid’s GAA club in Castleknock is their latest fundraising venture and they are hoping for a great turnout to support LauraLynn House.

The event includes a BBQ, games, facepainting, arts & crafts, cakes treats and lots of fun. It’s taking place from 1pm on Sunday, September 23.