Mayo family win battle for drug treatment for son's rare condition

A MAYO family has won a battle with the HSE for the approval of drug treatment for their son with a rare muscle-wasting condition.

The parents of Castlebar boy Lewis Harte, who is a Duchenne muscular dystrophy sufferer, got the good news yesterday he will receive the breakthrough drug, Translarna.

Ann Marie Walsh-Harte and her partner Padraig Harte have been campaigning for HSE approval for over two years.

When Lewis was five, Ann Marie told The Connaught Telegraph their great fear was that their son would lose his ability to walk unless given access to the treatment.

She said they were also considering moving to Northern Ireland where the drug is made freely available for children with the condition.

Mayo Senator Rose Conway-Walsh was delighted to confirm last night that approval for Lewis had finally been sanctioned.

"It is wonderful for the family and I am honoured to have played a role in the campaign.

"Efforts to secure similar approval for other children in respect of the drug, Spinraza, will continue," she stated.