Julie, who grew up in Killarney, underwent a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant at Vincent's Hospital last year after four years on dialysis, more than 20 years of diabetes and daily insulin injections.
Her health deteriorated so much that she had to move home to live with family and was battling loss of vision due to kidney failure. Her only hope is to become an organ donor.
Her poor health began at the age of 11, shortly after moving to Killarney from New York, when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
“I was only 11 years old when my world turned upside down. My life became a constant struggle. Hospitalizations due to diabetes complications plagued my adolescence, teenage years, and early adulthood. It was a very frightening and stressful experience for me in the early years.''As a teenager, I struggled with anxiety and depression, and felt very helpless because no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of my diabetes. I was angry. “I had resigned myself to the fact that the disease would have a stronger grip on me and that I would eventually become horrified,” she said in a special presentation for Organ Donor Week.
“From there my health started to fail. I woke up one morning and I could barely see, my vision was almost gone. It was such a shock and it was so scary. I was then admitted to Sligo University Hospital. I went for an eye exam, and the diagnosis was bleak. I had developed retinopathy and macular edema, an undesirable consequence of diabetes that affects some patients, and my vision began to deteriorate and become blurry. ,” she said.
Her condition worsened further, to the point where she almost completely lost her eyesight for six months. She eventually underwent extensive eye surgery at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, and although her eyesight was preserved, Julie had much more fighting ability.
“Now I was not only battling diabetes, but also the possibility of kidney failure. Dialysis became my lifeline, but it also felt like a burden, draining me of energy, and frequently ending up in the ICU. It was difficult to even survive the COVID-19 infection. Then I contacted TB and after enduring rigorous tests, I finally got on the transplant list for a kidney and pancreas transplant at St. Vincent's University Hospital. I was let in,” Julie explained.
“In the spring of 2023, I was asked to undergo a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant, which was completely successful. When I woke up, I felt like a weight had been lifted. I no longer had insulin injections, and it was a complete success. The four years of dialysis sessions I had to undergo three times are gone, and I no longer need to use a dialysis machine for nearly 2,000 hours. I am finally able to not only exist, but live. .
“Emotions overwhelmed me. Gratitude, relief and disbelief flooded my heart. Someone's selfless act, their decision to donate their organs, had given me a second chance at life. It's a feeling that is difficult to put into words.
I owe my new found life to my donor and his family, and I cherish that gift of life every day. My future is now filled with hope, excitement, and immense gratitude. Organ donation changed my life, and I will forever advocate the importance of organ donation. ”
Organ Donor Awareness Week 2024 took place this week (20th to 27th April) and was hosted by the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in collaboration with the HSE’s Organ Donation and Transplantation Ireland (ODTI).
IKA is calling on the public to use Organ Donor Awareness Week as an opportunity to discuss organ donation with their families.
The signing of the Human Tissue Bill marks a new step in organ donation and transplantation in Ireland after more than 60 years. IKA argued that the planned introduction of altruistic donation and opt-out registries provides an opportunity to engage the public in an important dialogue about organ donation.
