More than 100 Children Benefit from Life Changing Kidney Transplantation at Temple Street since 2003
- 2014 was the busiest year for transplantation in the 12 year history of the National Paediatric Transplantation Programme at Temple Street
- Increase in organ donations make transplants possible – call for more people to carry Organ Donor Cards
In the last 12 years 101 children from across Ireland have received a kidney transplant at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. Last year was the busiest year for transplantation since the hospital commenced its National Paediatric Transplantation Programme in 2003, with 19 children receiving a life-changing kidney transplant from living and deceased donors. In the two years preceding that, a further 25 children received a kidney transplant.
One of the country’s leading Consultant Paediatric Nephrologists has described the results of the transplants as ‘outstanding’. The youngest recipient of a new kidney is only two years old and the oldest is 17 years of age.
In addition to running the National Paediatric Transplantation Service, Temple Street is also the National Paediatric Haemodialysis Centre. Children from all over the country attend this hospital for dialysis three times a week for periods from six months to five years whilst waiting for a donor kidney.
Speaking about the number of kidney transplants conducted over the last 12 years, Dr Michael Riordan, Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Temple Street said “When a child’s kidneys fail or when they are born without normal kidney function, it is devastating for them and kidney transplantation can be a means to regain a normal life without the rigorous routine of dialysis.”
“The results of kidney transplantation performed at Temple Street for the 101 children have been outstanding over the last 12 years. Our transplant service has one of the best patient survival records in the world, and long term outcomes for the transplantation are excellent by international standards,” continued Dr Riordan.
Also speaking about reaching and exceeding the 100th kidney transplant at the Hospital, Dr Atif Awan, Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist, Temple Street, said; “The numbers of transplants are increasing because of the ever increasing number of generous people who carry organ donor cards. Each time we receive a kidney we are mindful of the organ donor and their family and we are aware of the difficult decision a donor family has had to make, at a most distressing time, but we see the hugely positive impact this decision has on the lives of our patients.”
Temple Street is continuing to encourage people to carry an organ donor card and to discuss their wishes with family when all is well. Notwithstanding the sometimes tragic circumstances that can surround discussions about organ donation, giving the gift of life is the greatest possible act of generosity and many families and individuals take considerable comfort in the knowledge that they, and their loved one, have transformed the lives of others for the better.
Organ donor cards can be requested from the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) in any of the following ways;
- Freetext DONOR to 50050
- Request your card online at www.ika.ie/card
- Lo call 1890 543 639
- By post to: Freepost, Donor House, Irish Kidney Association, Park West, Dublin 12
- Alternatively you can collect an organ donor card at your local pharmacy, doctor’s surgery, Citizens’ Information Centre.
- You can also sign the back of your driving licence to indicate your wishes or when applying for a new licence you can select to have the code 115 added to the back of your licence showing you are a willing organ donor
The Temple Street National Paediatric Transplantation Programme thanks all the generous families who have donated kidneys to the children we have cared for over the last twelve years. The programme also acknowledges the support and partnership of the Beaumont Hospital transplant team, the National Organ Procurement Programme, the National Renal Office; and the Health Service Executive with a special acknowledgement to Mr David Hickey, Consultant Transplant Surgeon, Beaumont Hospital who retired in early 2015, and who played a vital role in the success of the Temple Street transplantation programme since its inception.