Hannah May's Fairy Princess Dream Come True

Seven year old Hannah May Carroll from Athlone is an amazing little girl who has suffered so much in her short but traumatic young life but despite all she has gone through she always has a constant smile that would melt your heart. When Hannah was 2months old it was discovered she had a problem with her heart and she was diagnosed with Pulmonary Arterica, therefore for the first year of her life Crumlin hospital became her second home.

It was then discovered that Hannah had a large hole in her heart and doctors were unable to close it fully, this meant open heart surgery. The only way they could replace the aorta, which is the main artery, was by putting in a cow's vein. Hannah has ongoing treatments and will need more into her late teens as the cow's vein has to be replaced every few years.

Dream come true…

Hannah May loves princesses and her dream was to be a real live Fairy Princess and spread some Fairy magic.

Her Mum Laura wrote to Shay Kinsella of the Share a Dream Foundation to ask if they could make Hannah’s dream come true which would give all of them a huge lift after a long battle and a lot of hospital visits and disappointments.

“For special angels like Hannah we move heaven and earth to make their fondest dreams come true", said Shay and so the dream Team got working straight away.

So, on Friday the 22^nd of June Princess Hannah May with her brother Ryan and parents Laura and Robert travelled from their home in Athlone to the fabulous Grand Hotel in Malahide where the Princess and her family were guests of the hotel for the weekend. As it’s important for a Fairy Princess to have the correct Fairy attire, Princess Hannah then travelled to the Malahide Shopping Centre where she visited some of the shops and received some fairy Princess gifts.

Then, on Saturday morning the 23^rd June, her carriage collected Hannah and her fairy godmother from the Grand hotel to travel to Malahide Castle and Gardens, where thanks to their wonderful team, Fairy Princess Hannah May opened their new 1.8km Fairy Trail.

Twin Brothers Tyler and Scott celebrate 1st Birthday in Dreamland

When Share a Dream received a very special request from Mum, Margo Ryan, from Charleville, Co. Cork to make her little twin boys Tyler and Scott’s very special first birthday a memory the family would never forget before little Tyler headed to hospital in Dublin, they got straight to work.

“It would be a dream come true if we could have the party with extended family in magical Dreamland”, Margo wrote to Shay Kinsella of Share a Dream. So, on Sunday the 13^th of May the Share a Dream Team closed down Dreamland to organise what was to be a mega magical party full of fun, laughter and bags full of happy memories for children and adults alike.

“It was way beyond our expectations and a memory we will cherish forever and we are so thankful to you and the fantastic Share a Dream Volunteers who gave up their time to make the twins birthday party so very very special,” said Margo. “I also want to thank all the Share a Dream Team -our beautiful Birthday cake creator Deirdre of Deirdre’s cakes and Seamus Lawlor the wonderful photographer”, she continued.

Share a Dream receives no funding whatsoever and rely solely on the community so if you can help in anyway in making dreams come true please contact us. www.shareadream.ie  Tel/Fax: 061-200080.

"Little Fighters" Experience the Magic of Dreamland

The entire country know twins Hassan and Hussein who were conjoined at birth and had a miracle operation to separate them, which took 14hrs and they were given very little chance of survival.

However, not alone have they survived but are about to celebrate their 8th year since their separation! So, when Shay Kinsella of the Share a Dream Foundation met the twins and their mum, he decided he needed to organise something really special as this is the first year they are free to celebrate this miracle because of 45 operations, long painful treatments and hospitalisation.

Mum Angie wrote to Shay Kinsella of Share a Dream…“The last 8yrs have been a major challenge for all of us but we will keep doing what we have to do to give our two little fighters as much normality and quality of life as we can possibly give them. “We would love to celebrate this amazing milestone and miracle separation by visiting Dreamland and letting our children live the dream of being Firemen, policemen, pilots, construction worker, doctors, climb the tree of life then whizz down the magic slide! We want them to just be kids again as they are denied so much because of all the operations and total lack of inclusive play centres.

So, on Thursday the 5^th of April Hassan and Hussein along with sisters Malika and Iman and Mum and Dad was brought to Limerick by Share a dream to spend a few hours of magic in Dreamland where dreams really do come true. Later they checked into the beautiful Savoy Hotel where they were pampered.

Then on Friday the 6^th of April they headed to Shannon airport where they assumed the role of operation managers and went behind the scenes to see how an airport works, which included the fire station, check in, the tower, operations office, learned to be a real pilot and so much more….Afterwards they chilled out and relaxed as they checked into the Park Inn hotel in Shannon.

Then on Saturday the 7^th of April the family arrived back to Dreamland where all their family, relatives and friends were waiting for them for a mega party to celebrate life and 8yrs since their separation.

Dreams do come true if you believe in them, work on them and make them happen.  “There are thousands of parents out there who face each day with this same challenge to give their special children all the love and support they can to give them back their childhood and just let them enjoy life to the very best of their ability and see their fondest dream come true,” said Shay.

Share a Dream rely totally on the community for funds so if you can help in anyway please contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                www.shareadream.ie                    Tel: 061 200080.

Munster Rugby brings Christmas cheer to little Ben at Dreamland

Little Ben Reidy is a very special young 6yr old from Co. Clare who is fighting a terrible life threatening illness but loves watching Munster play on television.

So when Mum Catriona contacted Shay Kinsella of the Share a Dream Foundation to ask if he could do something really special for his 6^th birthday as he has suffered so much in his short but traumatic young life, Shay immediately said yes. “For children fighting terrible life threatening illnesses, Share a Dream move heaven and earth to make their fondest dreams come true,” said Shay. So Share a dream, Dreamland was closed down to the public to give Ben, his family and friends a 6^th birthday party they would remember for years to come.

We have a wonderful relationship with Munster rugby and when we explained to their manager what we were trying to do and if it was possible for one of the team to visit Dreamland and present Ben with a beautiful cake, specially designed and made by Deirdre's Cakes, she said she would do what they could but as it was European Cup week it might not be possible.

However to the absolute delight of Ben’s family and the 50 plus that were attending, in walked not just one but five of the Munster squad to make this a really magical Christmas present for Ben and his family.

“We can’t thank Munster rugby enough for always being there and helping us bring a little magic into the lives of children who are fighting an uphill battle against terrible life threatening illnesses,” said Shay Kinsella. “ The five lads were all wonderful ambassadors and are truly, caring young men who spent so much time with little Ben, thank you so much”, he continued.

Share a Dream are making dreams come true at present for 17 other children fighting terrible illnesses. If you can help Share a Dream continue making dreams come true please contact them at www.shareadream.ie   

A very Happy Christmas and a very big thank you to all our wonderful supporters and volunteers who have helped us bring a little magic into the lives of 1200 sick and disable children this year. Without your support it would not be possible.

Princess Elizabeth is a VIP for a day

8yr old Elizabeth Clarke who has been battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, but is currently in remission, dreamed of being a Princess for a day. So, when Mum Eileen from Co Limerick heard that Share a Dream could make her brave little girl's dream become a reality she was thrilled.

So, on Saturday the 21^st of Oct, Elizabeth arrived at Dreamland Fun Centre with her Mum Eileen and 2 little brothers David & Isaac to become Princess Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was given a private tour of Dreamland with her family and met a real Princess in the Castle of Dreams. Elizabeth was then accompanied on her royal tour by her ladies in waiting, Anna and Andrea and her escorts, Shane and Adrian who travelled in Elizabeth's own limo with a personal chauffeur.

Next it was off to the Parkway Shopping centre to get her nails and hair done in Folly Republic before doing a walk around and meeting staff in Dunnes Stores who presented her with gifts.

Then Elizabeth arrived at Childers Rd Retail park to walk the red carpet and officially launch the new Outfit Kids Clothing range in Dorothy Perkins to the applause of the large crowd gathered. There was face painting, delicious cupcakes, music, characters etc.

After being treated like a real princess and receiving a huge array of gifts from the staff of Dorothy Perkins and so many other shops and businesses, Princess Elizabeth returned to Dreamland for some delicious food before returning home with a sack full of happy memories.

Mum Eileen then went on to thank all involved, in particular to Shay Kinsella and Share a Dream for bringing so much happiness into what has been a tough time fighting this terrible illness.

Share a Dream would like to thank everyone involved, in particular all the staff in Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Wallis and Evans. AnGarda Siochana and all our amazing volunteers etc for helping us make a dream come true for a very brave little girl.

Dreamland Limerick which was built by Shay Kinsella of Share a Dream is the first all-inclusive Fun Centre of it’s kind where all children get a chance to play together learning through fun.  Book your visit today at www.dreamland.ie

Other shops without whom this dream would not of been possible include Argos and Smyths Childers Road Retail Park, Micheal Gleeson Young Shoes William Street, Keanes Jewellers, Uch Panto and Tony Cusack Limetree Panto, Micheal O Connell who supplied music, Lifestyle Sports William Street, Step in Time Carraiges, Euro Giant William Street, Niamh Hickey and Deirde Grimes face-painters, Damien O Neill who designed the amazing posters and kindly got the vip tickets for Thomond Park.