The stepfather of a boy who suffered brain damage following an accident dreams of accompanying him to the pub on his 18th birthday – after he has been taken off life support.
Fifteen-year-old Jack Dolan was knocked unconscious after doing a somersault into the water off Margate’s Stone Pier on June 23. Doctors did not expect him to recover.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed that there was no brain activity after he was rescued from the water, and on July 3, his life support was turned off.
But Jack continues to make slight progress and his family does not give up hope, even though his future remains uncertain.
“Every day there is progress, just the smallest things, it’s a long, long road, we are well prepared for it,” his stepfather Dave Dolan, 35, told Sky News.
“In just over two years he will be 18. I dream of him going to the pub with me on his birthday.”
The Dolan family a few years ago
After Jack’s life support was turned off, he was transferred to palliative care and a Donation page was originally set up to support the family with final treatment and funeral expenses.
He is unable to swallow or speak and is in a minimally conscious state, but he continues to receive physical therapy while his family tries to arrange special – but expensive – oxygen treatment.
His recent brain scans have shown tremendous improvement, Mr Dolan said, and the funds will now be used for Jack’s recovery.
Signs of recovery
“We keep fighting, we have been dealt cards and we have to make the best of them,” said Dolan, who was encouraged by Jack’s small signs of improvement.
“If you hadn’t seen it before, you wouldn’t notice, but when you’re there, you see little new things every day.
“He can kiss now… he’ll probably move his arms before he speaks – that will be the last thing. That takes a lot of brainpower and he’s not ready for that yet.”
Jack uttered a single word – “help” – as he looked into the eyes of his mother Lisa and grabbed her hand, which Mr Dolan said was out of “desperation”.
Jack Dolan with his mother Lisa
On Tuesday, Jack watched his favourite film in hospital, where he is expected to remain until September 3, while Mr Dolan enjoyed his slow progress since the “surreal” moment he was told Jack was underwater.
“I really didn’t believe it, even when they said he was underwater. I thought, ‘Oh, he’s messing around,'” he added.
“I just didn’t believe it… even when he was flown out, I thought he was going to be fine and I was going to scold him for being a fool.”
“I just want him to smile at me”
Mr Dolan said he could not bear the thought of Jack’s death – and now all he wanted to do was see him smile.
“I’ve accepted that he’s going to be different, but as long as he can smile at me, I don’t care. As long as I can make him happy, that’s all that matters,” he said.
Jack’s two younger sisters, nine-year-old Grace and 10-year-old Faith, are looking forward to reading to him and “cuddles” him, Mr Dolan added.
Read more:
Man charged with attempted murder after girl was stabbed to death
15-year-old girl dies in ‘tragic accident’ while playing with friends
Jack Dolan with his sisters
Mr Dolan said extensive work was currently being carried out on their home. Kentwhere a ramp will be built, doors widened, new drains installed and flooring replaced so that Jack can be accommodated after his discharge from hospital.
That’s about six months’ worth of work squeezed into three weeks, says contractor Dolan.
Support in fundraising
It contributes to their Donation page all the more important as nearly £40,000 has been raised so far and friends have organised fun days in two weeks and further Holiday Monday this month.
The family are trying to raise £8,000 for hyperbaric oxygen therapy – which involves breathing pure oxygen – and £38,000 for an oxygen chamber at home.
Jack Dolan is “the funniest kid”
“It’s incredible,” Mr Dolan said of the fundraiser. “Not only that the donations have been raised, but that so many people care about him.”
“When he gets better, he will develop even more fighting spirit because he really likes to make people proud.”
Stay up to date with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap here
He said Jack was the “funniest kid you’ll ever meet,” with a quick wit and “so much energy.”
“He’s jumping around from 7am to 11pm,” he added, describing him as his “best buddy” and “shadow.”
“He’s a little bit wild… he was just a funny, happy boy – that’s why it’s so important to me that he can smile.”
