A mother in the town of Wicklow gives her son a second chance in life by giving Her kidneys
In June 2024, Christine Ryan, 59, of Wicklowtown, gave his son, Stephen, 32 the ultimate gift – a second chance in life – he has two and a half years of dialysis treatment and related health After enduring the above challenges.
The successful transplant came after a long journey. It began when he was diagnosed as a child with kidney damage and reached its peak on June 24th with a life-changing surgery at Beaumont Hospital.
Just seven weeks after the surgery, Christine was able to join the family with a much-needed break after years of uncertainty, as Stephen returned to work six weeks later.
Stephen's health issues began at the age of two, following severe, prolonged stomach bugs. When he was eight years old, a series of kidney infections confirmed that his kidneys were damaged. For many years, Stephen's condition remained stable.
His mother attended an annual examination to monitor his health, ensuring that life continued as usual. However, once Stephen began working, he became immersed in his work and often postponed or canceled medical appointments. He had been doing well for a long time, so he placed the possibility that his condition could get worse deep inside his mind, and instead focused on his career.
Things have changed in 2021. After years of obvious stability, Stephen's condition rapidly deteriorated. He began to experience headaches frequently. His father, Pascal, runs him to the nearest hospital, where doctors discover that his blood pressure has reached a critical level, indicating that his kidneys are failing.
Stephen was then rushed to St. Vincent Hospital in Dublin, where he stayed for a week while his kidneys were confirmed to have failed.
He had chronic kidney failure, so his kidneys were completely ineffective.
Within a month he began dialysis treatment. This launches a challenging process with a 50-minute round-trip trip to St. Vincent University Hospital in Dublin and a long, often rigorous, four-hour treatment session, three times a week, three times a week. did.
Through it, his mother, Christine and father Pascal, were by his side, helping him indirectly transport him to his treatment despite the difficult circumstances.
“The traffic on the way home is very bad, and can take two hours and he often feels sick or trembles after a session,” Christine recalled.
Although home dialysis was considered, Stephen felt safer under the supervision of hospital staff and opted for hemodialysis treatment.
The family faced challenging years, and Stephen also underwent cardiac bypass surgery, which temporarily disqualified him from the transplant list.
Christine said: He was placed on dialysis and frozen on the transplant list. This means that once you reactivate it in the list, you need to start again.
“His kidneys caused heart problems and required a bypass. This was a very worrying time. He was also suffering from other health issues. The fluid in his lungs continued to get infected, and It took me a while to sort it out.
“When Stephen recovers from the bypass, my husband Pascal will ring Beaumont to make sure Stephen is revitalized on the transplant list, and then we'll start discussing what our options are doing in the future. It was there.”
Finally, in February 2024, Christine was allowed to donate after being relisted for a transplant.
“The screening process that began in March was very strict and involved both medical and psychological assessments, but I was scared of giving my kidneys and doubting my decision once. It never happened. My only fear was that something was going wrong to stop the transplant from moving on, but thankfully, it wasn't.
“When I found out I was a match with Stephen, I didn't hesitate. I couldn't believe it, but I was happy. The child was part of both mother and father. I've heard it's difficult for parents to get into a match because it includes. Usually, siblings are better matches.
“The rest of the family was happy that Stephen was getting kidneys, but I was able to understand their hesitation about how they donate kidneys. My 20 My old daughter offered to test but was turned down because she was considered too young.
“Steven was quietly pleased that I was a game, but he said he wanted it not me. There were all sorts of mixed emotions going around.”
The next day I met him with such a vibrancy, and for the first time in years, I was in healthy colour and the biggest relief.
The project, which took place at Beaumont Hospital on June 24th, was a success.
“I remember waking up and feeling sorely painful, but my first question was about Stephen,” she said. “The next day I met him with such a vibrancy, and it was the biggest relief in a healthy colour for the first time in years. We knew we had made it.
“The only part I found difficult was the first day after I woke up after surgery. I woke up and felt pain. The next day I got out of bed and moved around. I felt much better then.
“I had surgery on Monday and went home on Thursday. Pascal was taking me to Murau. We walked there and headed back to the car.”
Stephen's new kidneys quickly began working at Operation Theatre. After that, doctors announced that he had passed two and a half liters of urine, “it's the first time in two and a half years!”
Christine Ryan and his 32-year-old son Stephen.
After the transplant, Stephen returned to work within six weeks, but his employer encouraged him to take up more time and was extremely supportive throughout dialysis time. Stephen's recovery is amazing, and he enjoys the simple joys of life again, such as having enough energy to climb the hills home, meet friends, or play the pool with them. It's done.
“I was ready to give Stephen the kidneys without thinking about it. It was really worth it to see how well he was doing right now,” Christine shared. “He's eating everything now and is no longer confined to the kidney diet. Stephen is doing great things now. He's completely different since the transplant and his old self.
Now, Stephen thrives and is no longer bound to the scope of dialysis, so family can return to what they love, as if sailing with friends.
I wasn't afraid of my own surgery – I just wanted to make sure Stephen had a future
Looking back at Stephen's difficult health journey, he helped them, from consultant nephrologist Dr. Aisling Oriordin to the rest of the devoted kidney team at St. Vincent University Hospital to the transplant team at Beaumont Hospital. I am deeply grateful to the medical professionals. Includes implant coordinators, nurses, other medical staff, surgeons, and a wider team that guides every step.
For Christine, the best gift she could ever give to her eldest son Stephen was the gift of life.
“I wasn't afraid of my surgery. I just wanted to make sure Stephen had a future. I'll try again without hesitation.”
The European Donation Day, hosted by the European Director of the Council of Europe on the quality of medicines and healthcare, is a day dedicated to the gift of hope.
The theme to be held on October 5th this year is #OnedeCision. One decision to become a donor can save many lives. Their message is that by becoming an organ donor after death, they have the power to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve over 100 more through tissue and cell donation.
In Ireland in 2023, Beaumont Hospital performed 189 kidney transplants, 159 from deceased donors and 30 from living donors.
Approximately 1% of all deaths are in a situation that allows organ donation for transplants. There are approximately 600 people on the waiting list for organ transplants, including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas, at any time in Ireland. These approximately 500 people, or 20% of people undergoing dialysis treatment, are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.
Becoming an organ donor in Ireland is a simple process. Carry a donor card, beware your consent on your driver's license, or set up a digital organ donor card app on your mobile phone, but most importantly, share your wishes with your loved ones.
