Crea's younger cousin Lana was only 8 months old when she was first diagnosed with Bilateral Kidney Dysplasia, a condition where both kidneys do not develop properly when a baby is growing in the womb. Her transplant gave her 15 years until the kidney started to fail during her Leaving Certificate exams. Now Lana has been on the transplant for 2 years awaiting a new kidney. Her cousin Crea is running in this year's VHI Women's Mini Marathon to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
Lana was diagnosed at 8 months with Bilateral Kidney Dysplasia and started peritoneal dialysis on Christmas Eve 2006 when she was two years old. Thereafter she did 6 nights of home dialysis per week, while still a patient of Temple Street Children’s Hospital. She continued dialysis until her transplant from a deceased donor in August 2008. Lana continued to attend Temple Street regularly until 16 years of age, when she transferred to Beaumont Hospital during the pandemic.
Lana enjoyed 15 years with her transplanted kidney but during her Leaving Cert it began to deteriorate and, once her exams finished, she underwent a procedure for a peritoneal dialysis tube insertion to begin dialysis once again. She restarted peritoneal dialysis in September 2023 and this time for seven nights a week.
Lana had to make the change to haemodialysis earlier this year and now attends Beaumont Hospital three days a week to receive dialysis.
Lana has been on the transplant list for 2 years now and is one of four people in our local area waiting on this life-changing surgery. She awaits the possibility of a living donor, a deceased donor, or a successful match from the paired exchange programme in Belfast. We are all very hopeful that 2025 is going to be Lana’s year, in part so she can assume her studies at St. Pat's in DCU.
We are thankful for the work that the Irish Kidney Association do to aid the experience of people and families affected by Chronic Kidney Disease.
