Joy for Mayo/Cork family after triple miracle transplants

AN extraordinary series of events unfolded for a family spread across north and east Cork and Mayo in 2023, culminating in three kidney transplants in the space of six months.

The Fitzgerald/Cott family shared their story this Organ Donation Week, which also sees Michaela Morley from Mayo featuring on the Late Late Show tonight with Brian O'Driscoll.

Grandmother Margaret Fitzgerald (70), living in Buttevent in north Cork, and her 49-year-old son Michael, Carrigaline, received kidney transplants from deceased donors only seven weeks apart at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. But what made their journey even more remarkable was that less than six months before, Margaret's nephew Joe Cott underwent a living donor kidney transplant in Beaumont thanks to his kidney donor brother Michael, who lives in Claremorris.

A hereditary condition called polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which tragically Margaret's mother Elizabeth, when only 46 years old, passed away from, was inherited by two of her six children, including Margaret and an older brother.

Last year began with a sad note as Margaret’s older brother, Joseph Cott, also from Buttevant, who had received a kidney transplant over three decades ago, passed away in March 2023, aged 77, following a short illness. Despite their sorrow, his wife Ita, adult children, and Margaret’s family found solace in the knowledge that Joseph had lived a full and healthy life, and enjoyed being a loving father, and devoted grandfather, made possible by his deceased kidney donor.

Before he passed away Joseph had received the good news that his son Joe Cott would soon receive a donor kidney from his other son Michael.

Joe, a farmer living in Ballyclough in north Cork, had only been on dialysis for a few weeks before his younger brother Michael, who lives in Claremorris and works as an engineer, was happy to step up to donate a kidney to his brother and was delighted when it was confirmed that they were a ‘perfect match’ and that the operations could proceed.

On April 24, 2023, Joe and Michael underwent their living donor kidney transplant operations at Beaumont Hospital, a poignant outcome that brought comfort to all their families amidst their bereavement.

As Margaret and her son Michael Fitzgerald navigated the complexities of their kidney failure, fate intervened in unexpected ways.

In late September, Margaret’s son Michael received an unexpected call to travel to Beaumont Hospital for a transplant. Margaret described how overjoyed she was to witness her son's transformation and new lease of life made possible by the family of a deceased donor.

But fate had more surprises in store for the family. Just under seven weeks later, Margaret herself received the call for a transplant in the first week of November 2023, a twist of fate that left her reeling with disbelief and gratitude that she and her son had received the gift of life in rapid succession.

With each successful transplant, the family's spirits soared, uplifted by the generosity of their donors and the promise of a brighter healthier future.

Margaret, her son Michael, and his cousin Joe embraced their newfound leases on life with deep gratitude.

Speaking about the family's three-in-a-row transplants, Margaret said: “The longevity of my brother Joseph’s transplant, which lasted over three decades, and the incredible quick succession of transplants our family has received this year leaves us full of hope and gratitude. Having two successful transplants for my nephew and son close together was so unexpected but I was in total disbelief when I also got called for a transplant just seven weeks after my son’s.

“I had resigned myself to having to wait for a few years and was just happy that my son and nephew’s transplants were a success. My kidney function had reduced to below ten per cent and I was just about to commence dialysis treatment when I got called for my transplant.

“Although I had not been well and felt exhausted for a very long time, I had no idea just how much difference a transplant would make. Immediately my energy soared, and it still amazes me how simple things in life are so much easier now, like having boundless energy to spend a day shopping or spending time with my grandchildren. I could not believe it when I got called and when I woke up after my transplant operation it almost felt magical like ‘poof’ a total transformation. The transplant is life-changing”.

Said Michael Fitzgerald: “I cannot put into words the extent of my gratitude to the family of my deceased donor for transforming my life and freeing me up from sickness, and restrictions, and being tied to dialysis which I had to have twice a week for 21 months at CUH.”

Joe Cott said: “I was very lucky that I didn’t have to go on the transplant waiting list and that my younger brother Michael stepped up and it turned out he was the perfect match.”

The Fitzgeralds and Cotts are grateful for the support they received from the Irish Kidney Association throughout their health journeys and the medical and nursing teams at both CUH and Beaumont Hospital. They are staunch advocates for organ donor awareness and are sharing their uplifting story in gratitude to organ donors and to support Organ Donor Awareness Week 2024.

Organ Donor Awareness Week 2024, which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association in association with Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, takes place from April 20 to 27. The key campaign message continues to be built around sharing your wishes with your loved ones about organ donation with the theme, Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt #LeaveNoDoubt

The Irish Kidney Association is asking the public to use Organ Donor Awareness Week as a prompt to have a family discussion about organ donation. Even after the new legislation, The Human Tissue Act, commences, consent for organ retrieval will continue to be sought from the families of all potential organ donors. By sharing your wishes when you are in good health you are helping your family to act on your behalf in the event of you being a potential organ donor.

By requesting an organ donor card (https://ika.ie/donorcard/), you are letting the 600 plus people, and their families, who are currently waiting for ‘the call’ that there are people out there who are thinking of them. With approximately only 1% of deaths occurring in the circumstances of potential organ donation, we cannot afford to miss any opportunities because a person’s wishes are unknown.

Speaking at the national launch Ms. Carol Moore, chief executive, the Irish Kidney Association, said: “We look forward to provisions within the Human Tissue Act being commenced. We know that the Department of Health and HSE are working hard on this and hopefully will announce a future date for the commencement of the Act shortly.

“When the Act is implemented, people who do not wish to donate their organs can opt-out, and in these cases, their families will not be approached in the event of their untimely death. All those who do not opt-out will be considered potential organ donors, but their families will still have the final decision. The Act will also allow, for the first time, for altruistic living donation in Ireland, where the donor does not know the recipient.”

Last year, saw an increase in the number of kidney transplants taking place at Beaumont Hospital - 191 kidney transplants took place. While 161 of these transplants were from deceased donors, which was an increase of 31 from the previous year, there were also 30 living kidney donor transplants last year, three less than in 2022.

On December 31, 2023, there were 2,502 people in Ireland with end-stage kidney failure undergoing dialysis treatment, but only approximately one-fifth (approx. 500 people) of these are on the kidney transplant waiting list.

The public is being asked to mark Organ Donor Awareness Week by getting together to discuss organ donation with their loved ones and letting them know their wishes about organ donation. The organ donor card is the perfect icebreaker to start this conversation. Whether it is organising a get-together with family and friends, or setting up an information stand in your school, college, or place of work, it all makes a difference.

A wide range of resources to support awareness are available on the IKA website - https://ika.ie/donorweek/resources/.