Brave Caitlin (6), who will be awarded with a National Children of Courage Award for her fight against leukaemia.
A SIX-YEAR-OLD Ballindaggin girl will be one of eight youngsters from around the country to be honoured next Saturday 8th December, for their brave fight against horrifying illnesses.
Little Caitlin Doyle will receive a National Children of Courage Award at the Radisson Blu Hotel,Limerick, presented by the Share a Dream foundation, along with seven other of ‘Ireland’s Heroes’.
Gorey boy Ben Kelly (9) who has to be in bed by 7 p.m every night to receive 13 hours of dialysis for a failed kidney transplant will also be honoured at the ceremony. All of the children will then be in for a surprise at the end of the night when the foundation will make their fondest dreams come through.
Brave Caitlin was diagnosed with ALL Leukaemia in March this year, a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow.
It is most common in childhood, with a peak incidence at 2-5 years of age.
Despite the heartbreaking news, the beautiful little girl is said to have faced her illness with “great courage and determination”.
However, in a cruel twist of faith, it was not the first time the Doyle family have had to cope with a young child being diagnosed with Leukaemia.
In 2008, Caitlin’s brother Oisin lost his fight to the disease at just five years of age.
Described as a “little heartbreaker” whose short life was packed with fun, laughter and happiness, little Oisin fought valiantly until the end and never lost his characteristic vim and vigour for life.
Caitlin was only one at the time of her big brother’s passing, but she was always ‘at the heart of the action’ with him and their other brothers.
[For the full story, see this week’s Echo]