Galway's mother, whose life turned to her head last year when she was told she needed a kidney and pancreas transplant, revealed this week that she was “really blessed” to receive them.
Arceina O'Brien – a retired nurse, one nurse who lives in LaFlare and previously lived in the city's West Side – received a double transplant last year, ending five years as a diabetic patient.
And now she's talking to her to highlight World Kidney Day this Thursday, highlighting the shocking fact that one in ten people in Ireland and one in seven people over 50 live with chronic kidney disease.
CKD is currently on track to become the fifth major cause of death by 2040, and as part of World Kidney Day, the Irish Kidney Association is launching a national campaign “1 in 10” to highlight the threat of frequent silence of kidney disease and the need to take action now to reduce the risk of kidney failure and its serious consequences.
Arceina's journey began in 1996 when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
“I was in my early 20s and near the end of my training as a nursing student. I graduated and graduated from my career. After receiving support, education, changing my lifestyle choices, I qualified with a higher midwife diploma,” she said.
“I tried to make sure diabetes didn't interfere with me, while prioritizing health choices, diet and exercise.
“I lived with diabetes for 28 years and over time, the outcomes of my treatments have steadily improved, and I was interested in exploring ways to further improve my health and outcomes.”
Alceina says she has controlled the illness, guided by the expertise and dedication of many passionate medical professionals. She admits that it was a challenge at times, but she continued my nursing career and gave birth to my daughter, Rhianna in 2008.
But her world changed again when she was told that her kidney function had failed and that she needed a kidney transplant in the future.
Caption: Alceina O'Brien, 16-year-old daughter Rhianna, Loughrea's kidney and pancreatic transplant recipient.
Read Alceina's fully inspiring story at this week's Connacht Tribune. www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download the Connacht Tribune app from Apple's App Store or get the Android version from Google Play.
