A father-of-three has revealed how a heart transplant saved his life and his immense gratitude for his organ donors.
Niall Whiteley said he was also extremely grateful to the doctors and hospital staff who looked after him while he waited for surgery.
The 51-year-old underwent a heart transplant at Dublin’s Mater Hospital in late 2019 after years of poor health.
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Adopted at birth, Nile had no medical records or knowledge that he might have a family history of cardiomyopathy.
The Kildare man returned home from a business trip to New Delhi, India, in 2003 feeling unwell, and since then his health has gradually begun to deteriorate.
Nile said: “If it wasn’t for my donor family, I wouldn’t be here today for my wife and family, and my children wouldn’t have a father.
“I hope that by sharing my story, people will understand how important organ donation and transplantation is, and encourage people to discuss organ donation with their loved ones and make their wishes known. ”
Recalling how his declining health had affected him and his family, Nile said he was diagnosed with acute dilated cardiomyopathy in August 2004.
He added: “I was then transferred to Tallaght Hospital where I underwent extensive treatment and testing under the care of Professor Vincent Maher.
“I had many tests to keep myself healthy, but I was always told that I would eventually need a heart transplant.
“I kept my condition top of mind and set goals to get back to normal life.”
Nile, who is sharing his story to mark Organ Donor Awareness Week, said he was stable until 2017 when he noticed his health started to deteriorate.
In December of the same year, a serious incident resulted in an ICD heart-starting device being inserted due to an “arrhythmia” or abnormal heartbeat.
Niall said: “This helped us for a while, but by early 2019 we found ourselves running into problems again.
“I went to the hospital many times, but there was no improvement.
“In early June, I went fishing on Lake Enel, but when I didn’t have the strength to push the boat out, the harsh reality set in.”
There was a further setback when Niall was working from home when an abnormal heart rhythm caused him to fall in the kitchen and fracture his skull.
He was sent by Professor Maher to his colleague at the Mater Hospital, Dr Emer Joyce, who carried out tests and thankfully accepted him as a candidate for a transplant.
After several setbacks and disappointments, Nile finally received a call from Barbara, the transplant coordinator, telling him that a suitable donor had been found.
He said: “I felt another rush of emotions. Was it going to be canceled again? By then my kidneys were under severe pressure.
“And the thoughts of another family who lost a loved one and donated their organs, the immeasurable gift that kept me alive at great cost.
“These thoughts never leave you.”
Niall said the days that followed were surreal, adding: “This journey has been driven by the great encouragement of my medical staff, physical therapists, friends and family.
“The first year is the hardest, and setbacks are common: tweaks to medications, infections, and illness.
“It’s part of the journey, but it makes you stronger.
“My time in the hospital gave me a true appreciation for life and the incredible work of medical and nursing staff in caring for the physical and emotional needs of patients.
“Now that I’m back at work, in my free time when I’m not with my family, nothing makes me happier than spending some quiet time alone fishing on my boat.”
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