Temple Street Children’s University Hospital marks ten years of performing life-changing kidney transplants.

• 80 children received new kidneys at Temple Street since 2003
• 35% increase in live related donors
• 2012 was the busiest year ever for kidney transplants at Temple Street

At a special event in Croke Park on Saturday 29th June, 250 children and their families gathered to mark 10 years of kidney transplantation at Temple Street. 80 of these children have received a transplant at Temple Street since 2003; 22 from a living donor (a parent or close relative) and 58 from a deceased donor (when the kidney is retrieved from someone who has died but who carried a donor card.) Over the ten years, the youngest recipient of a new kidney was two years of age and the oldest was 17 years.

The children came from all over the country including Dublin, Cork, Sligo, Donegal and Wexford. With 20 children currently on the waiting list for a new kidney, Temple Street and the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) renewed their appeal for people to carry a donor card.

Once the card arrives it is important that the donor signs it and let their families know of their decision. Speaking about developments at the National Paediatric Renal Transplant and Haemodialysis Unit at Temple Street, Dr Atif Awan, Consultant Nephrologist at the hospital said “Our strong multi-disciplinary team continues to work to get as many children whose kidneys have failed, or who were born without normal kidney function, off dialysis as quickly as possible. We currently have 20 children waiting for a new kidney. We work in close partnership with the National Renal Transplant Team based in Beaumont and are very grateful for all their efforts on our behalf. ”

“Since our service started in 2003 we have seen a 35% increase in the number of live related donors, where the child receives a kidney from a parent or close relative. By increasing rates of live related donation we can reduce the amount of time children are on dialysis; schedule their surgery to ensure they are in optimum condition for their transplant operation; and avoid a potential wait for a suitable deceased donor kidney to become available.”

“Kidney transplantation is a much more cost effective solution for the State. Five years of dialysis can cost up to €400,000 per child – a kidney transplant has a once off cost of €30,000 for the 1st year and about 10,000 per year thereafter.” continued Dr Awan.

Also speaking at the event to mark 10 years of performing kidney transplants at Temple Street, Sheila Boyle, Senior Nephrology Nurse at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital said “In 2012 we conducted 16 transplants which was our busiest year ever – the number is increasing because of more live donor transplants and more people carrying donor cards. The informed decision by more and more people to carry donor cards means so much to the lives of our young patients. In our experience when transplantation involves a deceased donor, the transplant plays a hugely positive role in the grieving process for the friends and families of the donor at a distressing time, something we are acutely aware of here in Temple Street. Carrying a donor card is an incredibly positive decision and one that we encourage everyone to consider.”

To make a real and lasting difference to children who attend the Renal Transplant and Haemodialysis Unit at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, you can donate by visiting www.templestreet.ie or calling +353 1 878 4344