The mother of a two-year-old boy who sustained a devastating brain injury in a hit and run has said she prays that her “feisty” child will have a miracle recovery.
Zac Higgins, from Mahon in Cork city, has been diagnosed with a diffuse axonal injury (DAI) to the brain following a hit and run last month.
He is currently being treated at Temple Street Hospital in Dublin for the brain injury which occurs in about half of all cases of severe head trauma.
His mother Aishling Sexton, told Cork’s 96FM, that Zac was diagnosed with the brain injury yesterday when doctors tried to take him out out of an induced coma.
“It didn’t work out. They weren’t happy with him. So they put him back in to the coma and did an MRI scan which showed up that he had a DAI brain injury.
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"It causes lesions on the brain and nobody knows how he will recover from it. It is up the individual.
"Every case is different. I would hope that because he is so young that he does have a chance.
"He is so feisty so please God he will get there. But it is a waiting game.
"It is a lot of rehabilitation and it is going to be a very long road.”
Aisling says currently little Zac cannot move.
“At the moment he can’t move or anything. He will have a lot of issues. He will have to get a lot of rehabilitation.
"Please God he will be able to move and get up. He might be able to speak. We pray for a miracle every day.
"We pray to Holy God and Padre Pio that he will make a recovery. It’s horrendous. It is like a nightmare we can’t wake up from. “
Aishling says she and her husband Paul are exhausted.
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However, they know that travelling up and down to Dublin is their future as they try to combine caring for Zac with minding their two other children.
They are heartened by the support of their family, friends and the public.
“All our families on both sides and friends and neighbours have been amazing and we couldn’t ask for any more help because everyone is so good.”
Aishling and Paul have also received messages and cards of support from all over the world.
“People sending us their stories of when they were in Temple Street with their children.
"The support is unbelievable. There is good people out there. The community in Cork is amazing.
"We have to cling on to hope that please God he will get better and defy the odds and get there. It is going to be a long road. “
Meanwhile, a fundraising appeal which was launched for Zac last week has raised over €29,000 of the €50,000 goal.
Zac incurred serious injuries after being knocked down when he ran on to the road while playing with a ball at Castle Meadows, in Mahon, Cork city, on March 25th. He was hit by a blue Mazda 6 which left the scene.
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The fundraising appeal was launched at Ringmahon Rangers in Mahon where Paul is a treasurer.
Representatives of the club say that the father of three has been active onsite since he was a child himself.
He dedicates huge amounts of time to coaching four to six year olds in the area.
Cllr Chris O’Leary of Sinn Fein says that Paul and Aishling do extraordinary things in the community.”
“I have seen Paul giving to the community and involved in the community over the years. Soccer is his first love but he is involved in other things as well.”
The couple’s two other children Max, seven and Belle, four, are staying with family members.
Gardai are to forward a file to the DPP after releasing without charge a 17-year-old man arrested for questioning about the hit and run.
They have also spoken to two of the three passengers they believe were in the car at the time.
Donations can be made to the Go Fund Me Page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/zac-higgins-appeal-fund.
Payments can also be made through any bank using the following details.
IBAN: IE48MICI99222419052804
BIC: MICIIE21
