€6m unit to cater for more kidney operations

Stephanie Browne, who received one of her mother’s kidneys six months ago, was the first patient treated at the newly refurbished national kidney transplant unit.

Stephanie, 25, and her mother, Claire, were among the patients who attended the official opening of the new facility at Beau-mont Hospital, Dublin, by Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath.

The HSE invested €5.95m in the custom-designed facility, which was completed on time and within budget. It was specially designed to suit immuno-suppressed patients following a transplant.

The Irish Kidney Transplant Programme was first established as the National Transplant Service in 1964 in Jervis Street Hospital in Dublin and moved to Beaumont in 1987.

Transplant surgeon, Dilly Little, said Stephanie was one of over 2,000 people enjoying the benefits of a functioning kidney transplant.

Ms Dilly said the newly refurbished ward would allow the transplant team to expand the number of kidney transplants to keep pace with current demand.

Stephanie’s kidneys started to fail three years ago when she was at college. She spent the last year on dialysis for about eight hours a night. “I was waiting for a deceased donor when I was given the option of a living donor. My mum got tested and she was a match,” she said.

Stephanie from Raheny, Dublin, had started a post-graduate course in primary teaching when her kidneys began to deteriorate rapidly.

“I continued with my studies and finished my final exam last Friday. I now have a new kidney and I can get my dream job,” she said.

Stephanie said she would never be able to thank her mum enough for giving her a new lease on life last November. “She’s just incredible!”

Claire said she did not think twice about donating her kidney to her daughter.

“Once I knew I was suitable, I just wanted it to happen,” she said.

“Stephanie was very ill before the transplant. She spent most of her time asleep. She could not live her life like others her age.

“What we noticed most was that her eyes were extremely dull and lifeless. Now they sparkle. You can see the life in her again. It is just fantastic, a miracle.”

Claire first noticed Stephanie had become drained when completing the final year of an arts degree.

“Initially, we put it down to the stress of the exams that were coming up but it was not a normal tiredness. I thought she was anaemic so I encouraged her to get blood tests and they showed her kidneys were failing.”

Claire wants to encourage more people to become living kidney donors. “I know some people are afraid of hospitals. They shouldn’t be. I am only one of many who are living donors and we are all back to living our lives again.”