IT’S been a long road for nine-year-old Noah Quish, who has already endured almost 20 surgeries linked to the scoliosis that was crippling his spine, heart, and lungs.
However, Noah’s road got a little easier when he was presented with a specially-adapted trike to improve his mobility and independence.
Brave Noah, from Kilbane, was all smiles as he took to the open road in the three-wheeler, as he prepared for another surgery.
The trike was produced in a joint initiative involving the Variety Ireland children’s charity and John Preston Mobility Healthcare.
“It is a big milestone for Noah receiving this lovely trike, that was personally made for his needs, so he is very excited today as you can see,” said Una Quish, Noah’s mum.
“It’s great as it has all of the built-in precautions that he needs, so it is a great achievement and we are very grateful.
“He has a big beaming smile, and we just have to slow him down now that he has taken off.”
Mobility
Una said the new trike is “good for his mobility, because Noah suffers with aches and pains because of his scoliosis”.
“The trike is modified to suit Noah’s needs, and so it is great that he can pedal this, because he can’t pedal normal bikes, but he is well able to manage this.
“There’s no stopping him now, I don’t think we will be getting him off of it any time soon — He is flying it, he will get a speeding ticket,” Ms Quish joked.
The mother of two said John Preston healthcare “measured Noah and took into consideration his whole needs, in order to make a bike that suited him”.
Surgery
“Noah is doing great, he is due spinal surgery again in the summer. He had spinal surgery a few months ago, and he has had a bit longer recovery, but he is doing great now at the moment.”
Noah’s dad, John Joe Quish, said “it’s a big achievement for Noah to be able to have his own mobility and a bit more independence to get around himself”.
Watching his son take off down the road for the first time on a bike, Mr Quish said: “It’s brilliant.”
“Noah has come a long way in the last few years, he has had a lot of surgeries, and this will allow him to get out and about a bit more on his own,” he added.
Despite it all, Noah was beaming as he set out on his new transport on a road of independence.