NINE-year-old Luke Concannon’s mother knows all too well the vital importance of organ donation.
Brave Luke Concannon (9) received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor just over a year ago.
Now, his mum Karen, who is a board member of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) is encouraging people to speak with their family about their organ donation wishes.
“Organ donation can and does change lives,
? Karen said.
“Many people don’t realise the importance of it until they are affected like we have been, so we want to take this opportunity to strongly encourage people to carry a donor card.
“I’m calling on people to speak with their families about their wishes, not just about kidney donation, but about their other organs too.
“No one wants to consider the tragic circumstances under which they will face the donation of a loved one’s organs, but my son Luke is living proof of the profoundly positive impact organ donation can have.
?
More than 100 children have benefited from life changing kidney transplantation at Temple Street Children’s Hospital since 2003.
Last year was the busiest year for transplantation since the hospital commenced its National Paediatric Transplantation Programme, with 19 children receiving a kidney transplant from living and deceased donors.
In the two years preceding that, a further 25 children received a kidney transplant.
The youngest recipient of a new kidney is only two years old and the oldest is 17 years of age. In addition to running the National Paediatric Transplantation Service, Temple Street is also the National Paediatric Haemodialysis Centre.
Children from all over the country attend the hospital for dialysis three times a week for periods from six months to five years while waiting for a donor kidney.
Speaking about the number of kidney transplants conducted over the last 12 years, Dr Michael Riordan, Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist at Temple Street, said:
“When a child’s kidneys fail or when they are born without normal kidney function, it is devastating for them and kidney transplantation can be a means to regain a normal life without the rigorous routine of dialysis.
“The results of kidney transplantation performed at Temple Street for the 101 children have been outstanding over the last 12 years.
?
Dr Atif Awan, Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Temple Street, said the numbers of transplants are increasing because of the ever-increasing number of generous people who carry organ donor cards.
“Each time we receive a kidney we are mindful of the organ donor and their family,
? he said.
“We are aware of the difficult decision a donor family has had to make, at a most distressing time, but we see the hugely positive impact this decision has on the lives of our patients.
?
Organ donor cards can be requested from the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in any of the following ways: Freetext DONOR to 50050; request your card online at www.ika.ie/card; Lo call 1890 543 639 or by post to: Freepost, Donor House, Irish Kidney Association, Park West, Dublin 12. Alternatively, you can collect an organ donor card at your local pharmacy, doctor’s surgery, or Citizens’ Information Centre.
You can also sign the back of your driving licence to indicate your wishes or when applying for a new licence you can select to have the code 115 added to the back of your licence showing you are a willing organ donor.