Boost for kidney patients

[okarol]

Boost for kidney patients

By Fiona Dillon

Thursday July 30 2009

The coverage given to the decision by RTE reporter Vivienne Traynor to donate a kidney to her nephew has shone a positive light on living organ donation.

Colin White of the Irish Kidney Association said the story had "perhaps opened some people's eyes and minds that maybe, in their particular case, it may be a route to look at should a family member be waiting for a kidney transplant".

It emerged this week that Vivienne donated one of her kidneys to give her nephew a second chance at life.

Mum-of-three Vivienne (38) underwent the operation earlier this month to help her nephew Martin Traynor (29), who suffered kidney failure three years ago, and required dialysis three times a week.

A donor was sought among the family as Martin was at the bottom of a long waiting list.

The life-changing operation successfully took place in Coventry, England, on July 17.

After the operation, doctors have an optimistic prognosis for Vivienne's nephew.

Mr White said that the living transplant programme here in Ireland is growing. The new living transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin saw ten transplants carried out in 2008, with 30 living kidney transplants expected in 2009.

fdillon@herald.ie

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/boost-for-kidney-patients-1846733.html