People encouraged to consider 'life saving' organ donation

RTÉ News​

16-05-2025

Lung transplant patients have encouraged the public to consider the "life-saving" gift of organ donation on the 20th anniversary of the first ever lung transplant that took place at the Mater Hospital in Dublin.
379 patients have benefited from the hospital's lung transplant programme since the first procedure was carried out in May 2005.
Since then the programme has helped extend and improve the quality of life for those suffering from lung failure, many of whom have gone on to raise families, return to work, and even represent Ireland in the Transplant Games.
Veronica Doyle, from Co Kerry, made history when she became Ireland's first lung transplant recipient.
Ms Doyle was in her 50s when she had the operation and went on to lead a full life until her death in 2020.
Last year, 15 lung transplants were carried out in Ireland. Before 2005, Irish patients who needed a lung transplant had to travel to Newcastle in the UK for treatment.
Several patients who have received lung transplants since then have marked the milestone, along with the surgeons who performed the life saving operations.
Dubliner and father of three Tommy McGrane received one of Ireland's first lung transplants in 2006 after being diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Before his transplant, Mr McGrane struggled to walk and even shave.
"I got to see my children grow up and now I can spend time with my grandkids, something that I don't think would have been possible without the transplant," he said.
Nineteen years later, Mr McGrane has no breathing issues and lives an active lifestyle.
Robert Sheahan, 34, from Co Limerick was born with cystic fibrosis and his health began to deteriorate in his 20s, after his lungs collapsed three times.
In 2019, Mr Sheahan became the first Irish person to receive a liver and double lung transplant in an organ donation, receiving the organs on the very first day that he was placed on the "active transplant" list.
Two surgical transplant teams - from the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and another from St Vincent's University Hospital - worked for around ten hours to complete the transplant.
Almost six years on, Mr Sheahan says that his health is very good and is now capable of doing gym training and taking short trips abroad. He is particularly thankful to his donor and their families.
'Like a new person'
One of the most recent recipients of a double lung transplant is Lyndsey Barrett from Clarehall, Co Dublin who underwent the procedure in 2024.
Ms Barrett's health began to suffer in 2022 when she experienced severe breathlessness.
Initially misdiagnosed with asthma, her symptoms worsened over the following months until she was finally diagnosed with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Sarcoidosis, and CREST syndrome, an autoimmune condition.
Two years ago her condition had deteriorated even further and she was reliant on 24/7 oxygen, had a build up of fluid around her heart and gained weight from long-term steroid use.
In April 2024, the mother of one was officially placed on the active transplant list and just four months later she had a double lung transplant at the Mater Hospital.
Now feeling "like a new person" Ms Barrett said she is extremely grateful to have been given a second shot at life.
The transplant programme is only possible through the generosity of organ donors and the expertise and commitment of clinical teams.
"We knew that bringing lung transplantation to Ireland would change lives and it has," said Professor Freddie Wood, the surgeon who undertook the first lung transplant in Ireland.
"That first procedure 20 years ago was the cornerstone on which a nationally trusted programme was built here at the Mater and a network of healthcare providers interested in transplant continues to be developed and consolidated," he said.
"Debilitating breathlessness affects thousands of people of all ages," said Professor Karen Redmond, Consultant Thoracic and Lung Transplant surgeon at the Mater.
"It is horrible to recognise that some are actively dying. Organ donation is their only hope.
"Delivering a lung transplant takes resources, skill, dedication and most of all sacrifice," she said.