96 HealtH Matters
transplants
“it is noteworthy that
A DONATED ORGAN IS A WONDERfUl
transplantation is a vitally
GIfT fOR SOMEONE
important service for a
l
aura Cummins, who works for Hse remembers that she could see a huge
Procurement, was delighted when her improvement in sam’s health about 10
number of reasons. at
husband sam got a phone call in 2008 days after the operation. “He had the
asking him to go to Beaumont Hospital in operation at the beginning of august
the most fundamental
Dublin for a kidney transplant operation. and was back at work by the middle of
sam was diagnosed with kidney disease October. We have been able to travel to
level, it literally
in May 2004 and had been on dialysis see relatives in england for the first time in
represents the difference
since November of that year. four years without organising dialysis and
“the operation has made such a we can take a sun holiday too without
between life and death
difference. sam was working as a service having to make those arrangements.
engineer and having dialysis three “the hard thing about dialysis is that
for some patients.”
evenings a week at Waterford regional you don’t know how long you will have to
Hospital. they were very long days do it for. sam feels his life has been given
for him. If we wanted to go away for a back to him by the donor and the donor
they feel in giving permission for donation weekend or go abroad we had to make family. We are very appreciative and our
to occur and how this permission can give arrangements for sam to have the lives are much easier now. a donated
some sense to an otherwise meaningless dialysis and there was a lot of advance organ is a wonderful gift for someone.”
death. such gratitude can only materialise planning involved.” laura continues to be grateful to the
if relatives also feel that their grief has Laura, based in Kilkenny and working team of doctors who look after sam and
been respected throughout the donation in Portfolio and Category Management, follow his progress very closely.
and transplant process and they have
not been placed under pressure to
give consent.
Clearly all practical steps designed to
hOw tO apply fOr a DOnOr carD
promote increased levels of organ
donation are welcome. this could include,
for example, increasing the numbers of
• Freetext the word DONOR to 50050 • Apply for a card through the Irish
transplant coordinators working on the
Kidney Association’s website
ground at a regional level to complement
• Lo-call 1890 543639 with your at www.ika.ie
the excellent work already done by the
details
national team of five transplant
• Fax your name and address to (01)
coordinators based in Beaumont and
• Collect a donor card at your local 620 5366
their clinical colleagues throughout the
pharmacy
hospital system.
• Post your name and address to:
It is noteworthy that transplantation is
• Tick the donor box on the back of Irish Donor Network, c/o Irish Kidney
a vitally important service for a number
your driver’s licence association, Donor House, Park
of reasons. at the most fundamental
West, Dublin 12
level, it literally represents the difference
• Email your name and address to
between life and death for some patients.
donor@ika.ie
In very many cases it results in dramatic
improvements in length and quality of life
and in virtually every case it represents an
It is vitally important that
extremely cost-effective approach leading you carry your donor card
to savings of millions of euro each year to
at all times, and also ensure
the national exchequer.
that your next of kin are
informed of your wish to
Mr David Hickey is Clinical Lead of the
National Organ Procurement Office; and
donate, as it could make a
Clinical Director, Nephrology, Urology and
huge difference to someone
Transplantation at Beaumont Hospital. in need.
HM Iss6.1 p71-128.indd 96 12/03/2010 15:27:00
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