An organ recipient has welcome the expansion of donation laws in Ireland, 25 years after going through a successful kidney transplant.
Patrick Eustace was born with renal dysplasia, a disease in which at least one kidney fails to develop properly when a baby is growing in the womb. The situation was monitored throughout his childhood in Crumlin Children's Hospital, but his condition took an upsetting turn at the age of 12.
Fortunately, he underwent a kidney transplant six months after going on dialysis. The organ came from a deceased donor, and although Patrick does not have direct contact with the donor's family, he remains extremely grateful to them for their selfless decision.
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He told Dublin Live: "I send them something like a Mass bouquet every year through the transplant office. It's very important that as recipients we honour the decision that donor families make - it's made in a very difficult time and space for them."
He quickly bounced back after his transplant, with a recovery time of just 10 days in hospital post op. The transplant enabled Patrick to live a healthy life without being tethered to a dialysis machine, having had opportunities to travel abroad that wouldn't have been feasible otherwise.
Cabinet approved legislation back in November that will classify all people as organ donors, unless they decide to opt out of the system. The Human Tissue Bill, approved by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, aims to make organ donation as straightforward as possible in medical settings.
HSE figures reveal that 250 organ transplants took place in 2022, a welcome figure following a decline in operations during the Covid-19 pandemic. Patrick is optimistic about the effects of the new legislation, but says that having conversations with family members about organ donation remains vital.
He said: "Surgeons and transplant co-ordinators still look for the consent of the family and this should help with that process. If your family already know your intentions, you can make the decision so much easier for them- the conversation is so important to have."
Patrick's recovery from the operation was also facilitated through the hard work of physicians such as Dr David Hickey, a transplant surgeon as well as former Dublin player, at Beaumont Hospital. He continues to undergo blood tests a few times a year to ensure that his kidney remains in pristine condition.
The HSE estimates that 163 kidney transplants took place this year, making it the most common organ transplant procedures. The number of deceased organ donors for this year stands at 86, compared to 33 living donors.
Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to make their decision noticeable by carrying an organ donor card. They can permit Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or get the ‘digital organ donor card’ app installed on their smartphone.
Organ donor cards can be requested by visiting the Irish Kidney Association's website, phoning the IKA on 01 6205306 or free texting the word DONOR to 50050.
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