A new report from the International Organ Donation and Transplant Registry Office shows Ireland has the sixth highest lung transplant rate in the world.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only 11 lung transplants have occurred so far this year.
The numbers show that 38 lung transplants were performed in Ireland last year. In 2018, 28 lung transplants were performed.
The transplant programme continues in maternal and child hospitals throughout the pandemic, but a spokesman said “Like many aspects of our healthcare services, Covid-19 has impacted the programme.”
IRODAT figures show that the prices here are currently at 7.75 per million people, indicating that Ireland is ahead of countries like Australia, France and Switzerland, and is on par with the US.
Carole Gilliland, RockCorry, Co Monaghan, is one of those who received the transplant. An elementary school teacher suffering from cystic fibrosis underwent a double lung transplant in June 2018.
She said: “That was a very difficult outlook at the time, because when you really think about having a port, you realised at that stage that there was no other hope for you. That's your last chance of survival.”
Ms. Gilliland received a call in June 2018, which changed her life.
Gilliland said: “We were ready, we were ready, we were ready. We wanted that chance, so we had a double lung transplant on June 24th, 2018.”
The transplant changed her life and I'm candid about explaining that she wouldn't be here today without the transplant.
She said: “My life has changed, my family's life has changed. I can just stand up and go. I'm not obsessed with oxygen. The freedom I have now is that I didn't have a few years ago.
“I haven't looked back since I had the transplant. I was very fortunate. My health was amazing.”
Ms. Gilliland praised the transplant team at Matter Hospital in Dublin for which she treated.
She added: “The whole team has brought me back and gave me life. This is where I am today, and I can go out and have life.”
Experts hope that the rate of lung transplants will continue to increase.
“They're also very happy,” said Hossein Javadpour, director of the National Heart and Lung Transplant Center at Maternal Hospital.
Although Covid-19 has had an impact, the transplant program continues at maternal and child hospitals. To date, only 11 lung transplants have been performed in 2020.
“We have to see how the year will be in the final numbers, but the need is still there and the reason people are organ donors are still the same, so the program will continue,” said Professor David Healy of the National Heart and Lung Transplant Program at Matter Hospital.
Professor Jim Egan, a consultant pulmonary surgeon at Matter Hospital and lung transplant specialist, said Carol Gilliland is an example of how organ donation can save and transform the lives of transplant recipients.
“Without the generosity of our donors and their families, our lung transplant program wouldn't be that successful,” Egan urges people to discuss donations with their loved ones.
“Let them know your opinion, carry your donor card, and check the box on your driver's license,” he urged.
