Little Tony Doherty is a beautiful, happy-go-lucky boy.  Piercing dark brown eyes and a beaming smile. Just like any five-year-old he loves going to school. But Tony is no ordinary child. He suffers from a number of life-threatening health problems - chronic asthma, under-developed lungs, an enlarged heart, chronic sleep apnea, achondroplasia (a growth disability) and has a permanent tracheostomy inserted into his windpipe to help him breathe which necessitates suctioning 20-30 times a day. If it blocks it needs to be cleared within three minutes or he will die. So, it is understandable his mother, Shirlie, is distraught with fear after being informed he will not have a full-time special needs classroom assistant (SNA) when he goes back to school  in September. Despite a recommendation from  a respected consultant at the country’s top children’s hospital and International Best Practice  stating children with a tracheostomy need to be supervised at all times, Mrs. Doherty has been told Tony will not receive such supervision. The withdrawal of constant care is due to cutbacks in SNAs. The Inish Times visited Mrs. Doherty and Tony in their Buncrana home this week. Those overseeing the cutbacks should do the same - maybe then they will realise the wrong that is being done and reverse their decision, so Tony can do what he loves most - going to school - just like every child his age.