I try to start my day off with exercise, but it depends on my call schedule, which is a minimum of two days a week, two weekends out of five weeks.
I often skip breakfast and head to my office in Dublin with a cup of coffee.
As a donor coordinator, I manage the case files of all organ donors and their families. The safety of organ harvesting and transplantation is a very important part of our service. I am responsible for carrying out this task.
I meet up with my colleagues for tea and discuss various projects, including our donor awareness campaign.
A wonderful part of my job is facilitating letter correspondence from organ donor families to recipient families and vice versa. Anonymity is always maintained to protect the people involved. I am honored to read so many beautiful letters that arrive at Christmas time from families who have bonded together through tragedy or through the donation of a life-saving organ.
I receive referral calls from ICUs across the country. Families are heartbroken to hear that their loved one will not survive and have agreed to donate their organs. I have the vital role of facilitating the organ donation process, which also involves assessing the donor's suitability. I am supported by key stakeholders such as Lifeline Ambulance Service. The process can take hours, but once the organs are accepted, I coordinate a time with a Lifeline driver to retrieve them and travel to the hospital.
I was glad I parked my car at home and brought dinner from the freezer that morning to feed my four children. I went to the hospital with Lifeline to meet with key staff to review patient records and ensure patients were safely extricated. I was the clinical nurse manager and performed physical exams on patients.
I meet with families who describe their experience as a train wreck. I explain the process and get their consent. I give them as much time as they need. I am always amazed at how grateful they are, even though we are the ones thanking them for their unselfish acts.
I am honoured to be part of the Irish Organ Donation and Transplant Team and encourage everyone to #HaveThatConversation about organ donation.
