As we approach European Donation Day on October 5th, we are reminded of the incredible power of organ donation and the life-changing impact it can have on families. The story of a courageous mother of six from Wicklow town who donated a kidney to her eldest son serves as a profound testament to the selfless gift of life.
In June 2024, this 59-year-old Christine Ryan gave her son, Stephen, aged 32, the ultimate gift - a second chance at life - after he endured two and half years of dialysis treatments and related health challenges. The successful transplant came after a long journey, which began with him being diagnosed with kidney damage as a child and culminating in a life-saving operation at Beaumont Hospital on 24th June. Just seven weeks post-surgery, Christine, was able to join her family on a long-awaited holiday abroad - a much-needed break after years of uncertainty and Stephen returned to work after six weeks.
Stephen’s health issues began at the age of two, following a severe lingering gastro bug. When he was eight years old a succession of kidney infections led to confirmation that his kidneys were damaged most likely since the time, he was sick six years before. For most of his later childhood and adolescence, Stephen’s condition remained stable. His mother ensured he attended annual check-ups to monitor his health. However, once Stephen began working, he immersed himself in his job, often postponing or cancelling medical appointments. He had been doing well for so long that he put the possibility of his condition worsening to the back of his mind and prioritised his career instead.
In 2021, the situation changed. After years of apparent stability, Stephen’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He began experiencing frequent headaches, which culminated in an alarming loss of vision. He was rushed to the nearest hospital, by his father Pascal, where doctors discovered that his blood pressure had reached critical levels, signalling that his kidneys were in failure. Stephen was then rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin where he remained for a week while it was confirmed his kidneys had failed and he would need dialysis and his blood pressure was stabilised. Within a month he began dialysis treatment, a challenging process that involved a 50-minute round trip to St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin and long, often gruelling four-hour treatment sessions, three times a week.
Through it all, his mother Christine and father Pascal were by his side, helping to transport him to and from his treatments, despite the difficult circumstances. "Sometimes the traffic on the way back was so bad it would take over two hours, and he often felt sick or shaky after the sessions," Christine recalled. Although home dialysis was considered, Stephen felt more secure under the supervision of hospital staff and opted for haemodialysis treatment.
The family faced a challenging few years, with the son also undergoing heart bypass surgery, which temporarily disqualified him from the transplant list. Finally, in February 2024, after being re-listed for transplant, Christine was cleared to donate. “The screening process which began in March was very rigorous, and included both medical and psychological evaluations, but I never once feared donating a kidney or doubted my decision. My only fear was that something would go wrong to stop the transplant from going ahead, but thankfully, it didn’t,” she said.
The operation, performed in June at Beaumont Hospital, was a success. "I remember waking up and feeling groggy and sore, but my first question was about Stephen," she said. "Seeing him the next day in such good spirits, and with a healthy colour for the first time in years, was the greatest relief. I knew then that we had made it."
Stephen’s new kidney began working immediately in the operation theatre, and later in response to a doctor’s announcement that he had passed two and a half litres of urine, was met with joy by Stephen who happily declared, “That’s the first time in two and half years!”
Following the transplant, Stephen returned to work within six weeks, though his employer had encouraged him to take more time off and had been very supportive throughout is time on dialysis. Stephen’s recovery has been remarkable, allowing him to enjoy the simple pleasures of life again, including having enough energy to walk up the hill to his home, meeting friends, and playing pool with them.
"I was ready to give Stephen my kidney without a second thought. Seeing how well he is now, it was worth every bit of it," said Christine. "He eats everything now, no longer restricted to a renal diet!
The Ryan’s story also honours another dear family, the Clarkes who they have enjoyed a long-time friendship with as their children grew up together. Both families share a love of sailing and spent many holidays together on their boats. The Clarkes faced a heartbreaking loss over a decade ago when their sixteen-year-old son, Andrew, passed away in December 2012. In an act of profound generosity, his parents, Derry and Sallyanne, chose to donate his organs, helping three others live on through their tragic loss.
Now, with Stephen thriving and no longer bound by the confines of dialysis, the family can return to the things they love, like sailing with their friends. As they reflect on Stephen’s difficult health journey, they are deeply thankful to the healthcare professionals who supported them from Consultant Nephrologist Dr. Aisling O’Riordan, and the rest of the dedicated renal team at St. Vincent’s University Hospital to the transplant team at Beaumont Hospital including transplant coordinators, nursing and other medical staff, surgeons, and the wider team who guided them through every step.
European Donation Day, 5th October
As we mark European Donation Day, the Ryan’s story highlights the importance of organ donation. Their experience showcases not only the strength of the human spirit but also the vital role that living donors can play in transforming lives. For Christine, the best gift she could ever give to her eldest son Stephen was the gift of life.
In her words, "I didn’t fear the surgery for myself – I only wanted to make sure Stephen had a future. I would do it all over again without hesitation."
This European Donation Day, which is organised by the Council of Europe’s European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare, is a day dedicated to the gift of hope. This year’s European Day will be celebrated on Saturday, 5th October, and is based on the theme #OneDecision. One decision to become a donor can save many lives. By becoming an organ donor after death, you have the power to save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve over 100 more through tissue and cell donation. Make that one decision today and become a donor!
Consider the impact that deceased donation and living kidney organ donation can have and celebrate the incredible healthcare teams who make these miracles possible. In Ireland in 2023, Beaumont Hospital carried out 189 kidney transplants, 159 from deceased donors and 30 from living donors.
Approximately 1% of all deaths are in circumstances that allow for organ donation for transplantation. At any one time in Ireland, there are approximately 600 people on waiting lists for organ transplants including heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas. Approximately 500 of these, or one-fifth of people receiving dialysis treatment, are on waiting lists for kidney transplants.
The Irish Kidney Association’s 39th Annual Service of Remembrance & Thanksgiving for organ donors and transplant recipients will take place on Saturday, 12th October at The Church of the Holy Child, in Whitehall, Dublin 9 (D09 HX99) at 1pm. The inter-church Service is expected to have a congregation of 1,500 including family members of deceased donors, living donors and grateful transplant recipients. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to register their attendance in advance through the following link www.ika.ie/service2024
Becoming an organ donor in Ireland is a simple process: carry a donor card, note your consent on your driving license, or set up the organ donor app on your phone but most importantly Share Your Wishes with your loved ones. For more information on organ donation and the Irish Kidney Association visit www.ika.ie
