The Koch family, who suffer from a genetic kidney disease, are counting their blessings after three family members underwent transplants.
For the Fitzgerald and Kotts families, 2023 began on a sad note with the passing of Buttevant resident Joseph Kott at the age of 77 after a short illness.
His grieving family was comforted by the fact that his kidney donation more than 30 years ago enabled him to live a full and healthy life while watching his children and grandchildren grow.
Joseph has polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and his sister Margaret Fitzgerald, 70, also suffers from the genetic disease.
Their mother died from the disease when she was only 46 years old.
Margaret's son Michael Fitzgerald and nephew Joe Cotto also inherited the condition and required transplants.
Before his father passed away in March last year, Joe received good news that his younger brother Michael was the perfect candidate to donate his kidney.
Joe, a farmer from Ballyclough, Co. Cork, was on dialysis for just a few weeks before receiving the good news that his brother would be a living donor.
On April 24, 2023, his younger brother underwent a successful surgery at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
“I was very lucky that I didn't have to be on the transplant waiting list, and my brother Michael stepped up and he turned out to be the perfect match,” Joe said after the transplant.
Just five months after Joe's successful transplant, Michael Fitzgerald received a call to travel to Dublin to receive his donor kidney.
Michael, 49, from Carrigaline, was living through a complicated situation with kidney failure when he received an unexpected phone call.
The second transplant was successful within a few months, and Margaret cheered up the family by saying that her son had changed after the surgery.
Michael expressed his gratitude to the deceased donor's family who gave him a new life and made it possible.
Margaret was still overjoyed that her son and nephew were on the road to recovery, but little did she expect that just seven weeks later the phone would ring again with good news.
Her kidney function had fallen below 10% and she was scheduled to begin dialysis treatment when she was contacted.
“It was so unexpected that I had two successful transplants near my nephew and son, but I couldn't believe it either when I got the call,” she said.
“I had resigned myself to having to wait a few years, but I was just happy that my son and nephew's transplants were successful.”
Margaret said she had been unwell and exhausted for a long time before the surgery, but she had not anticipated how much improvement would be made with the new kidney.
“When I woke up after the transplant, it felt like magic. It was like, 'Boom' – a complete transformation. Transplants are life-changing.”
Fitzgerald and Cott's families shared their story as part of Organ Donor Awareness Week.
The Department of Health and the HSE are currently working on the Human Tissue Act and a start date will be announced shortly.
Once this begins, the families of all potential organ donors will continue to be asked to consent to organ collection.
Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association, said: “If this law comes into force, people who don't want to donate will be able to refuse organ donation, which could lead to premature death. “Families have not been contacted,” he said. .
“Everyone who does not opt-out is considered a potential organ donor, but the final say rests with the family. This legislation also ensures that donors are able to receive altruistic donations in Ireland without knowing that they are an organ donor. For the first time, living donation will be allowed.” ”
Last year, 282 organ transplant operations were carried out thanks to 95 deceased donors and their families and 30 living kidney donors.
At any given time, around 600 people are on the waiting list for organ transplants in Ireland, including hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys and pancreas.
