Ireland's longest living heart transplant patient says he is still alive thanks to the kindness of his donor mother.
Andy Kavanagh, 19, thought he had a bad case of the flu and was treating it with regular paracetamol drinks and flu medication. Little did he know what was happening was something much more sinister.
“I thought it was just a normal, everyday cold, but after a few weeks the symptoms didn't change and they gradually got worse, so I ended up going to my GP,” Andy said. I say.
Related: Do you know what the “nocebo effect” is? Dr Doirien reveals parenting hacks every mother should know
Andy was shocked when his doctor sent him to the hospital, but worse happened.
“I was admitted to the hospital, and after tests, I was told that I needed a heart transplant.''
Andy was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, which prevents the heart muscle from pumping blood around the body properly. This was all due to a viral infection he contracted.
However, another family suffering severe bereavement bravely accepted the donation of their loved one's organs, and Andy received his life-saving heart at the Martel Misericordier University Hospital.
He underwent surgery in 1986 under the care of Maurice Nelligan and Freddie Wood. And now, 38 years later, Andy from Coolock has just celebrated his transplant anniversary. He is Ireland's longest surviving heart transplant patient, just one year behind the world's longest surviving heart transplant patient.
He is married to Lorraine and they have a daughter, Lindsay, and three lovely grandchildren. He has worked at An Post for the past 25 years and is grateful for the life he has been able to lead.
“At the time of the transplant, he only had two to three years to live, so it's amazing that he's still here at 38,” Andy says. “And it's going to take a couple of years to get there, but it's an amazing story that it's still here 38 years later and it's all due to the kindness and generosity of our donors.” Gertie Russell If I hadn't donated my son's heart, I wouldn't be here 38 years later. ”
Andy's story is unusual. A year after his transplant, he was so grateful to the donor who gave him life and to the family who so courageously donated his organs to his loved one that he placed an ad in the newspaper.
“I'm so grateful to the family and I hoped this would bring some comfort to them as well,” he said of the ad. “I never thought we would meet after that. I was hoping she would read it. And to know that someone was still alive after the sacrifice she made. So maybe the first anniversary of David's death will be a little easier.
David Russell's family saw the ad and got in touch with Andy, and they have since become firm friends, with David's mother Gertie Russell and his sisters now close friends. .
“I got to know the family really well,” Andy says. “I visit them a few times a year, usually for David's anniversary and also for Gertie's birthday. When I got married in 1990, she went to my wedding. He attended.”
“Every time I see his mother and sisters, they know how much this means to me and how grateful I am.” I wouldn't have been here because the donor recognition wasn't that great.”
The transplant at the age of 19 was meant to allow Andy to live a full and normal life like everyone else, and he certainly did that.
“When I got the transplant, I knew life was going to be good. There are things you can do and things you can't do, but once you establish a routine and structure, it becomes part of what you do every day and you have to do it to keep going.” You just have to do it,” he says.
“We've had some hiccups, and we all have hiccups in life, but it's because of the medication, but for the most part, things have been going well for the last 38 years.”
Andy was diagnosed with cancer in 2000 and had his kidney removed. Later, due to the side effects of the transplant medication, her remaining kidney stopped working, and she needed a kidney transplant. She was on dialysis, but in 2007, she received a new kidney.
“I have been on dialysis for four years and it was not the most difficult thing to do because being on dialysis saves your life. I used to have dialysis in the morning and go to work in the afternoon. I had a kidney transplant in 2010. But now I have a full and normal life, and I'm so grateful for that. I've always had small milestones. I wanted to see her go to school, and then I wanted to see her take Holy Communion, and then I wanted to see her leave school, take her exams, graduate, and go to university.”
“It would be impossible to see everything, but I've seen a lot, and I've seen three wonderful grandchildren.” The lives of four deaf people. ”
The average survival time for a heart transplant is now around 15 years, and Andy is breaking all records and hopes to celebrate his 40th anniversary in two years.
“Even if I died tomorrow, I wouldn't regret it,” he says. “I've had an amazing 38 years since my transplant, and it was made possible because of the people who donated my organs. It's because the whole idea of getting a transplant, like everyone else, It means that I can continue to live a full and normal life and try to live, and I believe that I have been able to do that and I am very grateful.”
Dr Emer Joyce, consultant cardiologist at the Mater Misericordier University Hospital, said Andy was a wonderful person, adding: “Andy is one of the more than 400 people who have received the gift of life through an organ donor through the Mater Heart Transplant Service. was one of the first recipients.” ” she says.
“Considering that the prognosis for heart transplant patients today is much better than it was when Andy received a donor heart in 1986, especially considering the other things he had to overcome, such as receiving a kidney transplant,” Given the obstacles, his journey has been remarkable.'' Living long and well after a heart transplant requires not only the recipient and his or her family, but also the dedicated transplant professionals and team. It requires strong dedication.
“We need adequate funding and resources to enable interdisciplinary transplant services like ours at Mater Hospital to move the field forward and achieve outcomes like Andy’s for as many recipients as possible. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Andy for his work as an excellent peer advocate for recent transplant patients.
“This is a huge milestone. Andy is not only alive after his heart transplant, he is thriving. This is a great accomplishment for Andy and his family, for the donor family and for the Mater Hospital transplant program.” Almost 40 The passing of a year is staggering in any jurisdiction in any country. And it's a testament to the care and dedication that Andy and Mehta's multidisciplinary team put into it.
“But this shows that organ donation can give your life to someone else, and organ donation not only saves lives, but also allows people to continue living a fulfilling life, with their children and grandchildren. It is important to emphasize that it also helps.
It is very important that people share their wishes with their families. Despite pharmaceutical innovations, Andy is here today because of the generosity of his donor and his family. ”
Martel Misericordier University Hospital first started its heart transplant program in 1985 and has remained the national center for heart and lung transplantation since then, with over 400 transplants performed. In the last 10 years. The program has expanded and now includes mechanical heart pumps, which can be implanted in patients awaiting or not eligible for a transplant to help keep them healthy and live a fully active life for as long as possible. You can now send .
Dr Brian O'Brien, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation Ireland, said changes to the law around organ donation were on the horizon and doctors and nurses would approach families in the hopes of getting their consent to donate.
“I urge everyone to discuss their views on this most important issue with those closest to them.”
tell us what you think about us Discussion bulletin board.
