Father’s transplant sacrifice for brave daughter

A NORTHSIDE father is to swap one of his kidneys to help his daughter who desperately needs a transplant.

Eddie Carter, from Coolock, will make the sacrifice for his daughter Megan (13) after they were accepted onto a programme in the UK.

As part of the Paired Exchange Programme willing donors and recipients essentially swap kidneys so their loved ones can benefit.

This means that Eddie will donate a kidney at Guy’s Hospital in London and Megan will be transplanted with a kidney (not her father’s) at Great Ormond Street.

Both Eddie and Megan had to undergo an involved screening process for suitability for the programme which took over eight months. They may be called as soon as June for their operations.

Megan’s mum Carol said her daughter, a budding artist, is also on the transplant waiting list in Ireland and they remain optimistic that she will be called soon.

“It’s great news that Megan and Eddie have been given this opportunity in the UK also,

? Carol told Northside People.

“We heard about the Paired Exchange Programme in the UK through Megan’s consultant in Temple Street.

“The kidney swaps will be done simultaneously. We’re just waiting on a match now for Megan.

“The programme isn’t available in Ireland as we don’t have a big enough pool here.

“When we heard about the programme we looked into it. Eddie went to see a doctor in Beaumont and went through all the tests before he was given the all clear.

?

Carol said it will be a very emotional time when the operations are taking place.

“I will have to split myself in two when both my husband and daughter undergo operations at the same time in different hospitals in London,

? she explained.

“Megan has had a tough time with her health and a successful transplant will make a huge difference to her quality of life.

“A transplant will allow Megan to live a normal life again without being tied to 12 hourly nightly dialysis.

“Megan became very ill when she was six and it was discovered that she had underdeveloped kidneys which led to a series of kidney infections.

?

Megan, a pupil at Scoil Chaitriona in Coolock, received a pre-emptive kidney transplant (patient has a kidney transplant prior to going on dialysis) in 2011 but sadly it failed within a few hours.

“She suffered heart failure last year and she is now taking medication for her damaged heart,

? added Carol.

“She was only on the list for two weeks for that transplant. The shock nearly killed us when she was called. The operation failed, though, because of blood clotting.

?

Megan’s parents and her siblings – Annemarie (21) and Sean (8) – were all devastated but they are hoping that the next transplant operation will be a success. Carol said that despite Megan’s serious health problems, she continues to be positive and tries to lead as normal a childhood as possible.

“Her quality of life is difficult,

? she said.

“The dialysis takes a lot out of her and she’s very tired but she’s getting on with it.

“She is coming to an age now where her friends are excelling and she wants to do the same things they’re doing. It wasn’t so bad when she was younger but it’s getting difficult now.

?

According to Carol, her husband is

“just a little bit apprehensive

? about the operation.

“He is prepared to do whatever it takes, though, to get Megan to have a better quality of life,

? she added.

“Any parent in the same position would do the same.

?

RTE broadcaster Joe Duffy recently fronted a campaign in the lead up to Organ Donor Awareness Week, which aims to increase the number of organ donors. The campaign was organised by the Irish Kidney Association and supported by the Irish Donor Network.

*Organ Donor Cards can be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association on LoCall 1890 543639 or Freetext the word DONOR to 50050. Also, visit www.ika.ie for more information.