Joey Conway to travel to Chicago for vital surgery next spring

Two-year-old Offaly boy Joey Conway will be travelling to Chicago in late March for vital surgery.

Over €330k was raised to help fund Joey's surgery via GoFundMe. Joey's family took to social media to announce that he will be travelling to Chicago in late March for pre op evaluations and assessments prior to surgery in April.

The Join together for Joey campaign said: "This is the start for Joey and this is feeling real for us with a mountain to climb in Chicago in April. Joey is a trooper and will get through whatever is thrown at him."

"All preparations are underway for a life-changing family adventure to Chicago. We honestly cannot thank each and every one of you. This would not of been possible and in such a short time without your help."

The fundraiser for Joey had set an initial target of €330,000 to cover the cost of the surgery he needs and a whopping figure of €331,621 was raised in just three weeks.

In March 2023, he suffered Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS), and was on a ventilator in the ICU in CHI Crumlin for two weeks. It was the second serious sepsis infection in his short life. Joey was diagnosed with Portal Vein Thrombosis (PVT) recently which has led to a serious and rare condition Non-cirrhotic Portal Hypertension.

There is a Meso Rex Shunt/Bypass surgery that can be done for Joey. It is a five-hour surgery that connects the superior mesenteric vein to the left portal vein using an internal jugular vein. This procedure bypasses the obstruction and restores normal portal flow into the liver. This can restore Joey’s system back to normal function.

If this surgery is completed in a healthy system (not bleeding) that Joey currently has now, there is a 90% chance of success and restoring Joey’s system and curing him of all other symptoms.