Dialysis

My Story

My Story is a section dedicated to the stories of those with this condition and how they have dealt with it.

Andrew Gilligan (27) from Riverstown, Co. Sligo,donated one of his kidneys on 2nd February, to his elder brother Padraig (33). Padraig, also from Riverstown, Co. Sligo, then got the chance to be his brothers bestman, when Andrew married Joan McIntyre from Curry on Saturday April 18th.

“The change is unbelievable. Within days of having the transplant I felt much better, and since the operation I havetonnes more energy, it’s fantastic,” Padraig said. “I used to have nearly ten hours of nightly dialysis but that’s all behind me
now. We are both glad to have the operations finished and out of the way. Thank God there were no complications.”

Both brothers said the support they have received from family, friends and the staff of Beaumont Hospital has been
amazing.” Andrew jokes that Padraig now has more energy than he knows what to do with. He said he was thrilled to be able to donate his kidney to his brother. “He needed the kidney and I was compatible with him, so I knew I wanted to do it. I can still function perfectly with only one kidney. I had to chat to the fiancé about it and she said that if it was the same situation in her own family that she would do the very same thing.” (www.ika.ie)