Father's Day double celebration for Mayo family
Marking 15 years since life-saving kidney transplant
It will be a double celebration for one Mayo family this Father's Day on Sunday as they not only mark the special bond between a father and son but also celebrate the 15th anniversary of their successful life-changing living donor kidney transplant.
Every year, the family comes together to mark what they affectionately call their "kidney anniversary" – the day father Steve O’Shea donated a kidney to his then 12-year-old son, Colm.
This year's celebration is particularly significant as it marks 15 years since the transplant, which took place on June 13, 2011.
Now 27, Colm who is working and living in Galway, will return home to Westport to celebrate the milestone with his family, including his mother Daire and elder brother Diarmuid (30) continuing a tradition that serves as an annual reminder of the extraordinary gift his father gave him.
For Colm's mother, Daire, the anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on one of the most challenging periods in the family's lives and the invaluable support they received from the Irish Kidney Association (IKA).
Through accommodation provided at the National Kidney Support Centre, she and Steve’s friend, Stuart, were able to remain close as her husband and son underwent surgery in two Dublin hospitals on the same day.
The Support Centre, located just 200 meters from the front entrance to Beaumont Hospital, also gave the family comfort and reassurance throughout the transplant screening process leading up to surgery and afterwards during recovery and follow-up appointments.
While Steve and Colm were undergoing surgery in separate Dublin hospitals, Colm's brother Diarmuid was doing his Junior Certificate examinations.
Like many families who face serious illness, the transplant affected every member of the household, each dealing with the stress and uncertainty in their own way.
For Daire, the challenge was especially daunting as both her husband and son were undergoing major surgery on the same day. While Steve underwent donor surgery at Beaumont Hospital, his kidney was transported to Temple Street Children's Hospital, where Colm was waiting to receive his life-changing transplant.
"It was a very stressful and emotional time for our family. Not only was our son undergoing a kidney transplant, but my husband was also having major surgery on the same day.
"We were a long way from our home in County Mayo. Having somewhere to stay close to the hospitals was a huge help, but what really made a difference was the people at the National Kidney Support Centre.
“The staff understood exactly what families like ours were going through. They were kind, supportive and always there with a listening ear when you needed one. There was a real sense that they genuinely cared and understood the worry, uncertainty and fear that families experience during a transplant journey.”
“I'll never forget the comfort and reassurance we received there. Knowing there was someone in our corner who understood what we were facing and who was always ready to help gave us enormous peace of mind. At a time when everything felt overwhelming, the National Kidney Support Centre became a home from home for our family."
Daire outlined her son’s health journey transplant.
“Colm was born with a rare condition called posterior urethral valves (PUV), which affects the urinary tract and kidneys, although his condition was not diagnosed until he was six months old. From that point, he came under the care of the team at Temple Street Children's Hospital, where his kidney function was closely monitored throughout his childhood.”
“As his condition deteriorated, it became clear that he would eventually require a kidney transplant. Fortunately, Steve proved to be a suitable donor and, in June 2011, underwent living donor surgery to give his son the gift of life.”
“The transplant was carried out pre-emptively, meaning Colm was able to avoid dialysis treatment altogether. However, without the timely intervention of living donation, he would have required dialysis in the very near future.
"The transplant not only spared him the physical and emotional challenges of dialysis but also allowed him to enjoy a more normal childhood and look forward to a healthier future.”
The family's gratitude for the support they received is one of the reasons they were keen sharing their story in support of the IKA’s National Kidney Support Centre.
Now, as the Irish Kidney Association enters the final phase of its €250,000 fundraising campaign for a major renovation of the National Kidney Support Centre, the family hopes their story will encourage others to support the free of charge ‘home away from home’ that has helped numerous kidney patients and their families from across Ireland.
The centre first opened in March 2000 and is located 200 meters away from the hospital entrance. It offers free overnight accommodation and day facilities to kidney patient families from all over Ireland while loved ones are attending Dublin hospitals for renal care.
To support the IKA’s National Kidney Support Centre fundraising appeal visit: www.supportkidneycentre.ie