Organ Donor Awareness Week

Organ Donor Awareness Week which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association and supported by the Irish Donor Network takes place from 28th March until 4th April 2009. The annual life saving awareness campaign aims to highlight to the general public the plight of people with organ failure and the ongoing need for organ donation for transplantation encouraging more people to make an informed decision to carry an organ donor card and to donate their organs in the event of their untimely death. There are currently over 600 people in Ireland awaiting life saving transplant operations.In Ireland last year, there were 146 kidney transplants, 58 liver, 4 heart and 4 lung transplants. 12 pancreas were transplanted simultaneously with a kidney transplant.

By shopping at GiftsandVouchers.ie you can buy a voucher or gift for someone AND donate 5% to the Irish Kidney Assocaiation AND receive a 5% discount by entering the word 'kidney' as the promotion code during check-out.

In May 1994 I became one of the many Irish people to suffer from end stage renal failure. It happened to me overnight due to a rare blood disease. I was admitted to St Vincents Hospital Dublin where initially they thought I had leukemia due to my blood count of 4. I remained in hospital for 4 months where I have Professor Alan Watson and his team to thank for keeping me alive. I developed dilated cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, epilepsy, septicemia, double pneumonia, liver problems to name a few. In the end I had a tube put directly into my stomach to feed me. I had little time left and then I got the call every transplant patient waits for and prays for. But at the same time you feel a guilt for because you know another family has lost somebody. And for this we thank you so much. That in your time of grief and pain you can do so much for others. In May 1995 such a Family did this for me and I had my transplant and I still have my transplant. I slowly built my life back up. And boy it was great! Organ donation means so much to people like me and our families.

Throughout the Week, Irish Kidney Association volunteers will be out on the streets and in shopping centres throughout the country selling 'forget me not flower' emblems (the symbol of transplantation), brooches, magnetic car ribbons and organ donor key rings. Proceeds will go to the Irish Kidney Association’s support programme for patients on dialysis and those patients fortunate enough to have a kidney transplant. The Irish Kidney Association is the organisation charged with the promotion and distribution of the organ donor card in Ireland on behalf of all patient groups with an interest in organ donation who form the Irish Donor Network.

Information fact files which accompany organ donor cards can be obtained (free of charge) from the Irish Kidney Association and are available nationwide from pharmacies, GP surgeries and Citizen Information Offices. Organ Donor Cards can also be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association LoCall 1890 543639 or Freetext the word DONOR to 50050. Click here if you wish to apply online for your Donor Card

These cards are so important and so vital at letting people know your wishes in case you can't. Please take the time to get one and fill it out. Make sure your loved ones have one and that you know what their wishes are. It could save so many lives, and you never know how close it could be to you.

Sian xx