{
  "id": 142792,
  "title": "Hip surgery for woman after mother confronted Taoiseach",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/04/hip-surgery-for-woman-after-mother-confronted-taoiseach",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-04T16:54:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0804/1586469-mother-taoiseach-hip-surgery/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A 19-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, a deformed hip, a misaligned femur, and an inverted pelvis is set to undergo specialized surgery in the United States after years of advocacy by her family. In September of the previous year, Antoinette Burke confronted Taoiseach Micheál Martin as he entered a Fianna Fáil think-in at a hotel in Cork. Ms. Burke informed Mr. Martin that her daughter, Katie Byrne, had been awaiting surgery for 15 years, asserting that early intervention could have prevented the need for a hip replacement now, an operation only available at a facility in Florida. Efforts to raise funds for the surgery and subsequent physiotherapy costs continue. The HSE has committed to covering the essential surgery in Florida later this year. Katie Byrne, from Cobh, revealed that the HSE agreed to fund her crucial surgery and pre- and post-physiotherapy in a recent interview with Cork's 96FM. Katie, who completed her Leaving Certificate this summer, anticipates walking with her new legs by Christmas. She expressed that the years of campaigning felt like a dream, and the approval process has been a challenging ordeal. The HSE has agreed to finance the entire surgery and accompanying physiotherapy, with a tentative date set shortly after the end of August. Katie will spend nine weeks in the US, requiring two procedures spaced out and will need to avoid weight-bearing for six weeks post-surgery. Her mother, Antoinette Burke, confirmed the news to 96FM.",
  "summary": "A 19-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, a dysplastic hip, a twisted femur and a retroverted pelvis is to receive specialised surgery in the US following years of campaigning by her family.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}