State of shock

Biden name-check 'surreal' for Irish dad of cancer battle girl

- DANNY DE VAAL

THE Irish dad of a miracle three-year-old girl mentioned by US President Joe Biden in his State of Union address has said it was such a "surreal moment".

Waterford man Maurice Barron's young daughter Ava given just a 5% chance of survival after being diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer - but is now in remission.

The Irishman, who has been living in the US since 2005, had written to President Biden and the First Lady after reading about their experience of dealing with and ultimately losing their son Beau to brain cancer in 2015.

He told President Biden about how his daughter has had 26 blood transfusions, 11 rounds of radiation, eight rounds of chemotherapy, and a kidney removed.

He was left speechless when he received a call from a member of First Lady Jill Biden's office inviting him and his family to the State of Union address in Washington DC earlier this week.

He was then left even more shocked when the President name-checked him and his family during his speech.