Baby Shay was born four weeks early with a number of severe health issues
16:45, 29 Dec 2025Updated 16:52, 29 Dec 2025
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At 3.48am on December 18, 2023, Vicky and her husband John welcomed their son Ryan Shay Daly into the world. Within moments, he was rushed from his parents’ arms and taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Their baby was born four weeks early and weighed just 5lb 1oz – roughly 2lb less than the average weight of a baby boy – and from the very beginning, it was clear he had challenges ahead of him. When Ryan’s parents next saw him in the NICU, he was surrounded by wires and tubes, and the steady beep of machines filled the room. Vicky said: “It was terrifying. He was so small and so helpless.”
The Daly family from Cork
Doctors soon confirmed Ryan had suffered an intraventricular haemorrhage (a brain bleed) and bilateral deep venous thrombosis (blood clots). He experienced neonatal seizures that continued for days and were resistant to multiple anti-epileptic medications. “He had a very rocky start,” Vicky said.
Ryan spent more than 90 days in ICU and NICU, fighting through challenges that at times felt insurmountable. Against the odds, he survived, and eventually, he was well enough to leave hospital and go to his family’s home in Ballinhassig where he belonged – with his two older brothers, Nathan and Logan, who had been waiting to meet him properly, RSVP Live reports.
Even before Ryan came home, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation had become part of the Daly family’s life. Vicky remembers her first phone call clearly. “It was an introduction, followed immediately by, ‘What do you need?'” she said. “At that point, I didn’t even know how to answer. The doctors and nurses in NICU were taking care of Ryan, and everything felt overwhelming.”
What followed was support that went far beyond anything Vicky could ever have expected. “Jack and Jill aren’t just a charity. They’re family. They’re a community. There’s no Monday to Friday, no nine-to-five. They’re there 24/7.”
Brothers Logan (5) and Nathan (7) from Ballinhassig, Co. Cork, pictured with their little brother Ryan (1), who is supported by the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation. (Image: PHOTOCALL IRELAND)
The nurses who come into the Daly home have known Ryan since he was a baby. “When they walk through the door, I know he’s in safe hands,” Vicky says. “They’re reliable, kind, understanding and compassionate. They brighten our day. We laugh, we joke.” They also know Ryan as an individual – what soothes him and what brings him joy. “They know he loves the wind on his face, splashing in water, having his hair rubbed, and they definitely know what music he likes. Nothing is ever too much trouble, and they’re always at the end of the phone if I need advice or reassurance. The support they give our family is invaluable.”
One person who has made a particular difference is Eilín, the family’s nurse liaison. “She is a true shining star,” Vicky says. “She organises coffee mornings so families can connect, because this journey can feel very isolating. Her advice is invaluable – she guides us and advocates for us. She always checks in, and with her, I never feel forgotten.”
Ryan requires 24-hour care, something that affects every aspect of family life. Jack and Jill’s in-home nursing support allows Vicky and her husband to function – not just as carers, but as parents. “It allows us to be the parents we need to be for all three of our boys,” she explained.
The respite they receive makes space for everyday moments many people take for granted. “It allows us to focus on Nathan and Logan, together or individually, or even just spend time as a couple. It means we can do simple things like the shopping or catch up on housework – things that are incredibly difficult with Ryan’s level of care.”
As the family approaches Ryan’s second birthday, Vicky is honest about the road they are on. “Life’s journey can be hard for us at times. But the support Jack and Jill offers makes every step that bit easier. We would be completely lost without this truly amazing charity.”
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For families like the Dalys, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation continues to provide vital in-home nursing and respite care to children with complex medical needs across Ireland – support does not pause for holidays, seasons or milestones. While December is a time when many households slow down, for families caring for a child with complex medical needs, the demands often intensify.
In December alone, Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation typically needs to fund hundreds of hours of in-home nursing and respite care to support families like the Dalys across Ireland. With only a small portion of its funding coming from the State, the charity relies heavily on public donations to continue providing this vital care.
Each hour of nursing support allows parents a brief but essential break – time to rest, to attend appointments, to spend time with siblings, or simply to keep family life functioning. For Vicky and her husband, that support has meant being able to care for Ryan safely at home, while still being present for Nathan and Logan.
Jack and Jill currently supports more than 450 families nationwide, providing in-home nursing and respite care to children up to the age of seven with severe learning disabilities and complex medical needs. Every €18 raised helps fund one hour of care – one hour that can make a profound difference to a family’s day.
Those wishing to support Jack and Jill families this Christmas can do so by purchasing gifts from the charity’s online Christmas Gift Collection, by shopping in one of the 18 Jack and Jill Charity Boutiques, by organising a festive fundraiser or simply by making a donation, all of which can be accessed via www.jackandjill.ie.
Every €18 raised helps fund one hour of vital in-home nursing and respite care for a Jack and Jill family.