A LOCAL teen who was injured during a football match over a year ago has been battling against a debilitating medical condition ever since. Jordan Egan (16) from Rathcrogue was just 15 when she fell awkwardly in March 2012. Ever since then, Jordan, who has an underlying connective tissue disorder called ‘ehlers-danlos syndrome’, has suffered from autonomic dysfunction, something which affects her entire body.
The teenager, a student at PresentationCollege, suffers from chronic pain and needs a wheelchair in school and for long walks.
Jordan Egan (second left) with her parents Ted and Karen, her sister Rebecca and her brothers Eli, Scott and Ross
Pic: Michael O’Rourke
But despite all this, the bubbly youngster remains positive and hopes that doctors in London will be able to treat her condition.
“Jordan’s dealing with it really well. She just says ‘I’m fine’ and gets on with it. We were told we’ll have to find specialist medical care – we’re looking at a treatment more than a cure,” explained Jordan’s mum Karen.
With the support of her family – parents Karen and Ted and siblings Scott (11), Rebecca (8), Ross (3) and 16-month-old Eli – Jordan has just recorded a song, which the family hopes will go some way towards covering her extensive medical costs. Produced by local musical maestro Ollie Hennessy, with Dave Keary on guitar (he of Van Morrison fame) and Aoife Kavanagh on violin, Easy for an angel was written by Karen when the family felt at sea with Jordan’s condition.
“Last summer, Jordan was quite unwell and we didn’t know anything (about her condition) at that stage. The song was never meant to be heard outside our four walls. It was just therapy for me that I needed to vent,” joked Karen, who said a couple of friends heard it and “suggested we do something”.
“The lyrics are very personal. It tears me up every time I hear it,” added Karen.
It was Jordan’s idea to use it to cover her ongoing medical costs, which neither the HSE nor the family’s private health insurance will cover.
Easy for an angel by Jordan Egan is available to download on iTunes for 99c or to buy from the Visual arts centre for €5. It will also be available in a number of pop-up shops during the Carlow Arts Festival or you can email easyforanangel@gmail.com.
