Coronavirus: Ballyclare mum keeps son off school to protect sister with cancer

A Ballyclare mother has decided to take her son out of school in order to reduce the chances of her daughter, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, from contracting the coronavirus.
Niamh.Niamh.
Niamh.

Samantha Smyth has kept her son Michael McDowell (13) at home today (Monday) as a precautionary measure.

Samantha’s four-year-old daughter Niamh is currently receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic Leukaemia and has a weakened immune system.

Due to concerns about the covid-19 outbreak and the impact contracting it could have on Niamh, Samantha contacted Ballyclare Secondary School today to inform them Michael would not be attending classes for the foreseeable future.

Michael.Michael.
Michael.

Speaking to this newspaper, Samantha said: “I phoned them today to inform them that I wouldn’t be sending Michael back to school as it’s too much of a risk with his sister still taking immunosuppressive medicines.

“They said that they understood why I was doing what I was doing. He will be getting work home, but it will take a few days to get it all sorted.

“I would urge politicians to please consider the children who are more vulnerable to this virus. To cancel large gatherings, sporting events and things that involve large amounts of people, but then to keep schools open doesn’t make very much sense.”

Schools are still open across Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. Schools and colleges across the Republic of Ireland are closed until the end of the month.

Ms Smyth has praised staff at Belfast’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children for continuing Niamh’s treatment during the current pandemic.

She added: “Niamh’s treatment is continuing as normal. The hospital staff have been fantastic in regards to steps they are taking to prevent any infections and there is hand sanitiser in the wards, which everyone knows to use. You aren’t allowed in if you have a cold and they are only ever a phone call away.”