‘Finances get stretched when a child becomes seriously ill — we help families with that’

When a family is facing the prospect of a serious diagnosis for their child, the challenge of dealing with paperwork and securing their financial well-being seems gargantuan — but experts are on hand to help with compassion and solid advice

Catherine Konsoulas and her son Billy, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma, pictured in their Co Carlow home. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Saoirse Hanley

When Catherine Konsoulas’ son, Billy, was diagnosed with lymphoma at 15, her day-to-day existence became about appointments, medication, trips from home in Kilkenny to hospital in Crumlin and ensuring her daughter was cared for too.

It had been an unexpected turn of events. “The thing was, Billy had no big red flags, which is what they look for, essentially. He had no major weight loss, he had no night sweats, he had no temperature, he looked very healthy, he was extremely strong. Going into the hospital, they’d kind of be looking at you going, ‘there’s nothing wrong with him’ — it was very, very subtle,” Konsoulas explains.