A transplant recipient has encouraged people to talk to their loved ones about organ donation following a recent awareness week.
Rachel O'Hora underwent a combined kidney and pancreas transplant back in 2022. She was first diagnosed with diabetes as a child, which led to many health complications, including kidney problems in her early adulthood.
The procedure took place in St Vincent's University Hospital weeks after Rachel's health took a turn for the worse. She has started to feel like herself again for the first time since the transplant and relishes her life post dialysis.
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She told Dublin Live: "I finally don't have to go in and out of hospital every second day, being tied to a machine for four hours at a time. My health had deteriorated so badly alongside my mental health before the transplant- if it wasn't for my donor making that decision, I don't know where I'd be now."
Organ Donor Awareness Week commenced on May 20 and highlighted the strides Ireland has taken in regards to organ donation. Cabinet approved legislation back in November that classifies all people as potential organ donors, unless they decide to opt out from the system.
Rachel is optimistic about the Human Tissue Bill but argued that it could lead to increased demand on hospitals when it comes into effect. She has called on the government to invest in hospitals ahead of the new legislation.
She said: "I was in hospital for about a month after my operation as post transplant care is so specialised. The problem I foresee is that there won’t be enough beds or theatre spaces to cope with the increase in demand hospitals are expecting to happen."
Rachel celebrated her 40th birthday back in September and is making plans thanks to her new lease of life. She will soon jet off to the States to visit her niece, who was born three weeks after her transplant, without having the burden of dialysis to worry about.
She said: "I'm finally able to move around freely, without having to organise dialysis wherever I go. I ended up missing out on so much during my thirties because I would put off plans thinking my transplant could be just around the corner."
Rachel encouraged people awaiting a transplant to keep going with dialysis and to stay hopeful about the possibility of receiving a transplant. She also thanked medical staff at St Vincent's University Hospital for their attentive care and added that they "treated her like a queen" throughout the medical process.
People who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to make their decision noticeable through an organ donor card. Drivers can opt to have the '115' code printed on their license, while organ donation cards can be granted through the Irish Kidney Association's website.
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