The family of a popular Co Down teenager say they've been blown away by the support of their community after launching a campaign to bring their son home.
Cian Milligan's life changed on October 16, 2020 when he was injured in a crash while on his way to school from Castlewellan to Downpatrick.
Described by his family as "the best son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend that anyone could wish for", Cian was the sickest patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital that day, across both the children and adult wards.
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His injuries were both severe and life-changing, with doctors saying they could have been fatal - ranging from a shattered pelvis, fractured skull, laceration of the spleen, broken ribs and a facial injury requiring emergency plastic surgery.
The young man, who was a keen footballer for Tollymore Bears FC, also sustained a traumatic brain injury which means he now has severe complex needs and is fully dependent on others for all aspects of his care.
His aunt Claire said: "Cian spent almost two months in PICU and a further six months on Paul Ward at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) before travelling to a specialist brain injury rehabilitation centre in Tadworth, Surrey for six months – a very long 14 months before he would get ‘home’ to Castlewellan.
"The family are currently in rented accommodation as their own home will have to be adapted to meet Cian’s needs. He is wheelchair bound, tube fed, has a tracheotomy, currently non verbal and suffers from severe dystonia, a movement disorder which causes his muscles to painfully contract and spasm.
"We are raising £50,000 to get Cian home and support his continued rehabilitation and care. Major adaptations required to Cian’s family home are in excess of £100,000 and grants available will only cover less than half.
"He also requires specialist equipment to give him some form of communication and many specialist aids to make him comfortable and ensure he has a full and inclusive life as possible. Without funding all of this would not be possible."
The most difficult time the family could have ever imagined, they have been brought some comfort from the tight knit communities of Castlewellan, especially the Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche school community, past and present, Newcastle, Ardglass and Belfast.
Over £28,000 has been raised for the family in just 24 hours, with hundreds of messages of support being sent from across Co Down and beyond.
"Cian received the best of care from the Air Ambulance, staff at the RBHSC (especially PICU and Paul Ward), staff at The Children’s Trust, Surrey and all the wonderful nurses and carers he has had since arriving home," his family added.
"The positivity, prayers, well wishes and offers of support are so very appreciated.
"We ask again for any help and support that you can offer to get our boy home to his own house which he has not been inside in almost a year and a half. We want to organise cake sales, car boot sales, school fundraisers, football matches, street collections, mountain climbs, bike rides, supermarket bag packs etc. We would ask anyone who wishes to organise, help out or donate to please get in touch.
"We are so grateful for anything that can be offered and want to thank everyone again for all the generosity we have received. It is during the worst times that you realise what is really important in life and the kindness of others really can give you the strength and support to keep going.
"Cian has a long and difficult journey ahead of him but our determined warrior keeps fighting every day."
Please follow this link to donate to Cian's fundraiser or you can follow his journey on social media here.
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