THE mother of a Finglas schoolgirl has told of how she would love nothing more for 2013 than for her nine-year-old daughter to get the new kidney she desperately needs.
Brave Megan McKenny has waited patiently on the transplant list since July last year and has to undergo 10 hours of dialysis five nights a week, as the only kidney she has is failing.
Doctors discovered that Megan had only one kidney through an ultrasound to identify a kidney infection when she was just four-years-old.
They quickly realised that her kidneys did not separate and develop normally in gestation with the result that her right kidney is abnormal.
The problem only began to present itself as Megan got older and while her parents and doctors hoped she could survive as normal with one kidney, it became apparent that this would not be the case.
“By the time she was seven she was getting high blood pressure and we knew then that the kidney was failing,
? Megan’s mum Sinead explained.
“She was getting very tired and quite sick which was when the doctors put her on dialysis and on the kidney transplant list.
?
Little Megan, who is a fourth class pupil of Mother of Divine Grace primary school in Finglas, has been on home dialysis for the past four months.
She attends Temple Street Children’s Hospital on a monthly basis for a check-up.
The peritoneal dialysis must be done five nights per week and for 10 hours a night.
Megan is connected to the dialysis machine each weeknight by her mum and she goes to sleep while it does its work.
“She’s very patient and understanding,
? Sinead told Northside People.
“On Christmas morning she woke with excitement at 6am and I had to sit with her in bed trying to entertain her until 9am when her dialysis finished.
“I don’t know many other little girls who would do that.
“I think the situation would get to her more mentally if she had to do any more hours of dialysis because that would really start to affect her quality of life.
“We try to stay very positive though and we’re just hoping that either her father or I will be able to give her our kidney before her health deteriorates any further.
?
Tests are currently being carried out to determine if Megan’s father is a suitable donor.
“Both Megan’s dad and I are potential donors because of our blood types but we’re just waiting on other tests to be carried out,
? Sinead explained.
“The waiting is frustrating but there’s little we can do about that. We’re hoping that she will get a transplant this year. That’s our biggest wish for 2013.
?
Sinead wants to highlight her daughter’s situation to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and carrying organ cards.
“When I found out about my own child you realise how important it is,
? she said.
“By carrying one, you could be helping a child or an adult to go on living and make their lives better.
“People go about their days thinking they’re invincible and that they don’t need to carry a card until they’re older. But you never know the hour or the day and if there’s a chance you could make a big difference in death then what have you got to lose by becoming a donor and carrying a card?
?