GoFundMe for Joey Conway surpasses its initial target of €330k

The dream has now become a reality for the parents of Joey Conway as the GoFundMe in aid of vital surgery in Chicago for their two-year-old son recently surpassed its target.

The fundraiser for Joey Conway 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.

Taking to social media to announce the news that the GoFundMe had reached its target, Joey's mother Natalie said that she couldn't believe that they met their target. She explained: “This is going to give our little man the chance and it's all we wanted to do as parents so we're just going to do the best for him and give him the best chance of living a full life.”

Natalie thanked Offaly GAA, former Offaly hurler Michael Duignan and Offaly golfer Shane Lowry for supporting the fundraiser, saying that the momentum built up from their support has been “immense.”

Natalie and Joey's father Tommy will keep the public updated on what the future holds for Joey on their social media page 'Join together for Joey' on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The GoFundMe is no longer taking donations as it reached its target so quickly.

Shane Lowry, Michael Duignan, Offaly band Ruaile Buaile and Ballycumber singer Simon Casey have all shown their support for the campaign by posting videos of themselves encouraging people to donate to support Joey and his family. Shane donated €10,000 to help get Joey the surgery he needs in Chicago where we will have to stay anywhere between eight to twelve weeks from pre-op to post-op. Michael said that Shane had "given Joey's campaign a huge lift since getting involved."

Tullamore Food Fayre has organised a fundraising raffle in aid of the Join together for Joey campaign. Tickets cost €5 and are available from all traders. The draw will take place on Saturday, January 27 at 1pm.

In March 2023, Joey Conway 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. Portal Hypertension has life threatening symptoms and the risk of death is 40% on a first episode of bleeding.

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.

"Without this surgery for Joey, there is a 40% risk of death in the first episode of bleeding, Joey's family said.

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.