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families donating the organs of their loved ones, 308 people have received the gift of life
through transplant surgery in 2017 and he acknowledges the courage and generosity of
families who have donated their loved one’s organs.
Awareness is a major factor in promoting organ donation and the proof of that can be
seen in the huge rise in interest following a documentary on TV about Orla Tinsley and
her double lung transplant. In the following ten days after that was shown, over 9,000
people registered to become organ donors in Ireland.

Orla Tinsley had been a long-time sufferer of cystic fibrosis. She became a well-known
campaigner for improved services for people living with the disease. Her health deterio-
rated when she suffered a bilateral lung collapse and her condition worsened throughout
2017 and by December, she was on life support. Since her transplant, she has continued
to make a remarkable recovery.
Larry Gogan was also in the news recently when it was announced he was leaving 2fm
after 40 years, and during an interview, he revealed that he is receiving kidney dialysis.
He spends four hours a day, three days a week in hospital, where his blood is removed,
washed and then returned to his body.

That prompted other callers to contact the Joe Duffy Show the following day, to give
their accounts of dealing with the same thing and this led to a conversation about organ
donation. There were stories of long-suffering patients in dire need of replacement or-
gans and there were positive stories about life after transplants.

One caller told of being at deaths door with a failing heart, but he got a second chance
of life after he received a heart from a young 15-year-old girl who had been killed in a
car accident.

That was obviously a tragic and traumatic experience for the little girl’s family at the
time, but they must get some comfort from the fact that another person is living a nor-
mal healthy life thanks to their bravery and generosity.
It makes sense to become an organ donor and that decision could save many lives. You
can apply for an Organ Donor Card online or free text the word ‘Donor’ to 50050 or Lo-
call 1890 543 639.