Mayo teacher in heartfelt transplant plea

A YOUNG Bohola woman who urgently requires a double kidney and pancreas transplant has launched a campaign to highlight the fact there is officially no surgeon in Ireland to carry out such lifesaving surgery.

Rachel O’Hora (30), a schoolteacher, a diabetic since the age of eight, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease five years ago. She has been on dialysis now for a year.

At a press conference to highlight her situation and those in a similar predicament, Rachel explained: 'I need a kidney and pancreas transplant to have a quality of life back.

'I am currently taking five injections a day and am hooked up to a dialysis machine every night so that I can go to work and keep my job as a secondary schoolteacher'.

Following the retirement of the renowned Dr. David Hickey last December, there is no surgeon in Ireland to do pancreas transplants.