Life-changing surgery will allow Dexter smile
By Mary Dennehy
A TALLAGHT four-year-old is set to become the first child in Ireland with a rare neurological condition to undergo life-changing surgery, which will allow him to smile.
Living in Brookfield, Dexter Fennell was 18-months-old when diagnosed with Moebius syndrome, a rare condition that affects the muscles in the face and the muscle tone in the body.
For Dexter, living with the condition has affected his speech, eating, breathing, walking and facial expressions – with the junior infant unable to smile.
However, Dexter has been accepted for ‘smile surgery’ in Temple Street Hospital next year, and will be the first child in Ireland with Moebius syndrome to undergo the 10-hour procedure.
According to Dexter’s mother Mags Purthill Fennell: “We thought we’d have to travel to America for surgery and were gearing ourselves up for months and months of fundraising to try and raise the money needed.
“We were delighted when we heard the surgery could be done in Temple Street, and the surgeon there has confirmed that Dexter can have the surgery when he is six – which is next year, as Dexter turns five this February.”
According to Mags, if Dexter does not have suitable muscles in his face for surgery, doctors will take muscle from his leg and insert it over his mouth and ears to facilitate the action of smiling.
Following surgery, Dexter will undergo aftercare and physio to train his new muscle, and all going well, the Knockmore Junior School pupil will be smiling in no time.
“The surgery will give Dexter movement in his face, he will have a smile,” Mags said.
“It will also help with his speech and his eating, it will be life-changing.
“He’s starting to ask me why he can’t smile.
“It breaks my heart but I tell him that I know when he’s smiling.”
She added: “Dexter will be the first child with Moebius syndrome in Ireland to have the surgery.
“I’m really nervous for him but also excited, I know this is the best thing for his future.”
Due to its rarity and a lack of awareness of Moebius syndrome in Ireland, Dexter wasn’t diagnosed with the neurological condition until he was 18 months, a diagnoses which was reached after Mags turned to the internet – and the family of a 16-year-old girl living in Killinarden who also has Mobius syndrome.
As a result, this teenager’s mother Lesley Bracken O’Reilly and Mags established Ireland’s first national support group for children with Moebius syndrome and their families.
Mags said: “Due to the lack of awareness across the medical sector in Ireland and in the general public, myself and Tegan’s mam Lesley decided to establish Mobius Syndrome Ireland – which alongside raising awareness, offers support and information to families.
“Through the group we also want to raise awareness of Mobius syndrome and try and lobby for money to be invested into research, because as far as I know there are no studies into it at the moment.”
Mags also spoke of the difficulties families face in accessing services in the community, a situation the group hopes to change by raising awareness across the health and medical sector.
For further details or to contact the group, visit the Moebius Syndrome Ireland Facebook page.
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