TRANSPLANT surgery is an incredibly complex, life-saving and last resort treatment that we tend to think is incredibly rare – but not so. Around 200 people in Northern Ireland are currently on the organ transplant list, according to the Public Health Agency (PHA), and sadly around 15 people die each year here while waiting for an organ.
Most of us are familiar with the need for kidney transplants but transplants are regularly carried out on the heart, liver, lungs, pancreas and small bowel. Also, tissue such as corneas and heart valves can be donated and transplanted.
The PHA is urging everyone in Northern Ireland to say "I do" when it comes to their organ donation wishes, and to tell their family and friends that they want to be a donor. Sadly, every year viable organs are lost as donors who didn’t discuss their wishes with their family have their decisions overruled by distraught family members.
"To save more lives we need more donors," Dr Eddie Rooney, chief executive of the PHA and chairman of the Northern Ireland Committee for Organ Donation, says. "To raise the number of people getting life-saving transplants we really need everyone to understand the importance of not being complacent."
There have been great improvements in organ donation over recent years in Northern Ireland with 35 per cent of our population signing the Organ Donation Register. By signing the register and talking to your family you could help save the lives of up to seven people – surely the embodiment of “greater love hath no man…”
Over the past decade, 876 people living in Northern Ireland received a life-changing organ from a deceased or living donor. The number of people needing a transplant is expected to rise steeply over the next decade due to an ageing population, an increase in kidney failure and scientific advances resulting in more people being suitable for a transplant.
Transplant surgery is not something most spend much time considering, but whenever it touches your family life everything changes. Most people receive transplant organs after long chronic illnesses and there is the torturous wait of watching a loved one steadily become sicker and rely more on medication and in the case of kidney disease, the life-saving but arduous process of dialysis.
Many people are lucky and receive a new organ through the generosity of a living donor, most often a family member or good friend. However, occasionally the whole scenario can happen in a terrifying trice.
That is just what happened to one Co Derry family when virtually overnight, their previously healthy two-year-old son became extremely ill with an unknown virus. Within less than two weeks he went from happy, healthy toddler to an extremely sick child in desperate need of a liver transplant in order to survive.
Happily, Ted was extremely lucky and received a life-saving organ in time at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This incredibly traumatic journey has been life-changing for his entire family and in this instance the outcome has been so favourable. But Ted’s life was saved only by the generosity of another. Any one of us could be in the same situation at any time and now is good opportunity to take a few minutes to file your request on organdonation.nhs.uk.
This week Ulster Unionist Jo-Anne Dobson submitted her Private Member's Bill which could revolutionise organ transplants here if passed. The bill aims to give Northern Ireland a new 'soft opt-out system', bringing us into line with the changes taking place in Wales later this year and which are also progressing in Scotland.
If passed, it would mean that unless someone has specifically listed themselves as not wanting to donate their organs after death, it will be assumed that they consent.
Ted’s very grateful family are hosting a breakfast event and raffle to thank the Birmingham Children’s Hospital for saving their gorgeous and very special little boy. Ted’s parents give thanks daily for the family who donated the liver, despite their loved one's tragic death. They have been overwhelmed by the community support they have received.
The event, 'Ted’s Big Breakfast' will take place in Lavey’s Termoneeny Centre on Sunday September 27 from 9am to 1pm. Arbutus Catering will be cooking food on the day, and music will be provided by Scoil Ruaidhrí Dall harpers from 11am-1pm.
Ted would like to thank all sponsors of the Big Breakfast and raffle, and all those who have volunteered to help.
r.armstrong@irishnews.com
