THE father of a west Belfast child who has been waiting four years for a heart transplant has urged people to talk to their loved ones about organ donation.
Máirtín Mac Gabhann, father of five-year-old Dáithí, who has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant for four years, made the appeal at the beginning of Organ Donation Week.
He said that while Stormont legislation means that from next year all adults in Northern Ireland will be considered organ donors unless otherwise specified, "there was no room for complacency".
The Organ and Tissue Donation Bill, which in February passed the final stage of consideration in the assembly, will be known as ‘Dáithí’s Law’, in honour of the west Belfast schoolboy.
Mr Mac Gabhann, who along with Dáithí and wife Seph, has tirelessly campaigned to raise awareness of organ donation, said people needed to make their families aware of their desire to be a donor.
"While in nine out of ten cases the family will respect the potential donor's wishes, those left behind have the final say in whether their organs can be used," he said.
"That's why it's important that people make it clear what they want to happen - talk about it around the dinner and breakfast table this week. No amount of money will save Dáithí's life but words will."
Mr Mac Gabhann said that while Dáithí "remains stable" he can see his son "slowing down".
He said doctors had explained that circumstances meant children were likely to wait two-and-a-half times longer than adults for organ donation.
"The message this week is there's no room for complacency and that while Dáithí’s Law is a giant step forward, we still need to raise awareness," Mr Mac Gabhann said.
