Transplant recipient Sam starts school

A CHILD’S first day at school marks a major milestone for most families.

However, for a family from Baldoyle, it was a hugely momentous event as Sam Kinahan (5) waved goodbye to his parents at the entrance of St Laurence’s National School.

Sam had kidney failure since he was born and commenced dialysis treatment when he was just four and a half months old, at Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

Sickness was the norm for him and his life has been transformed since undergoing a successful living donor kidney transplant which he received from his father Ivan just 11 weeks ago.

Over the summer Ivan, Chloe (Sam’s mum) and Sam’s sister Ali (8) have seen Sam transform from a child who has always been sick into a normal healthy one. He was walked to school by his parents and Ali on his first day.

“Chloe and I are delighted Sam has been able to join his friends on his first day at school,” said Ivan.

“After spending almost five years on dialysis it was a true joy for us to walk to school with him. He is a beautiful boy and an inspiration to us.”

Chloe, who gave up work to be Sam’s full-time carer, said: “Ivan’s kidney has transformed Sam’s life. Seeing Sam in his school uniform has made us so proud. He has come so far and endured so much.

“It was lovely to see him that he could start school with his friend Flynn Keaskin as they have known each other since they were babies.

“Since his transplant Sam has developed an appetite and has a varied diet as he no longer has to be tube fed.

“He had been receiving dialysis treatment since he was a baby and because his dialysis line was going to his heart this prevented him from having baths and he had to be washed down with a sponge. His transplant has been life changing!”

Chloe said Sam’s transplant isn’t a cure but it is a very positive and effective treatment.

“He will be on lifetime medication but this is a small price to pay for his freedom as he can now lead a normal life and we can get on with ours,” she said.

“I plan to return to work soon. Ivan will be returning to work this week and he is already out on his bike trying to get his fitness levels back to where they were before he returns to running competitively with Crusaders Athletics Club.

“Ivan also hopes to be involved in the European Transplant Championships which will be held in Dublin next summer as the Irish Kidney Association hopes to introduce a special event to include living donors and deceased donor families.

“We would like to thank all the nursing and medical staff for their care of Sam at Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s Hospitals, and also the transplant and surgical teams at Beaumont Hospital where Ivan underwent his operation and at Temple Street where Sam was transplanted.   

“We would also like to thank all our family and friends as well as our neighbours and the community of Baldoyle for the support they have given us down through the years with various heart warming gestures like hot meals delivered to our doors after hospital visits.

“Our thanks also to
the Irish Kidney Association for the advice and support they have given us since five years ago when we were catapulted into a world of kidney failure.”

Chloe added: “I would encourage every family to have the important conversation about organ donation. Sam starting school this week is living proof of its life-giving success and profound legacy!”

For organ donor cards Freetext DONOR to 50050 or visit www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card