Affectionately known as “French Val,” a French native who has proudly called Cork home for the past 30 years with her Irish husband has long been known for her compassion which has clearly made its way into the heart of her young son. For the past ten years, she has spent countless late nights volunteering to support people living on the streets of Cork, travelling in her little red car to reach those in need of her warmth and care. Her kindness has not only touched those she helps on the streets but has also deeply inspired her 10-year-old son, Jordy, who recently transformed that inspiration into a remarkable act of his own through recycling for charity.

 

Now facing end-stage kidney disease, with her kidney function reduced to just 7%, Val is on the transplant waiting list. Determined to show support for his mother and kidney patients like her, Jordy has spent the past two years collecting recyclable cans and bottles to raise funds for the Irish Kidney Association, ever since the charity first launched its Tree of Hope Christmas campaign www.ika.ie/hope/. With the support of his mother, her friends experiencing homelessness, and wonderful customers in the shop where she works part-time, he has raised over €1,000 in the past two years, donating to the Irish Kidney Association (IKA) as well as to the homeless community his mother has long served.

 

You can dedicate a light with your donation on the IKA’s Christmas Tree of Hope. Jordy, who, this Christmas, was the first in line to dedicate a light, added a heartfelt message alongside a photo of himself. His light shines brightly this year upon the star at the top of the virtual Tree of Hope, with his tribute which reads, “Hello, my name is Jordy. I’m 10 years old and I have a mom with two sick kidneys. With mom’s friends and customers, we are recycling bottles and cans to give money to the IKA.” The views of Jordy’s heartfelt tribute now stand at over 2,300 views, and he is proud that his words may inspire others to support kidney patients like his mom.

 

In recognition of his kindness, the Irish Kidney Association awarded Jordy a Certificate of Kindness. The proceeds from this year’s Tree of Hope helps fund the renovation of the registered charity’s National Kidney Support Centre at Beaumont Hospital (www.supportkidneycentre.ie) which offers free accommodation and day facilities to patients and their families travelling from throughout Ireland to Dublin hospitals for treatment.

Reflecting on her son’s passionate enthusiasm, Val said, “Jordy sees his recycling as a real way to make a difference. When the Irish Kidney Association created the Tree of Hope three years ago, it struck me as deeply meaningful and stirred something in him also. We saw how people leave tributes to loved ones who have passed, send messages of support to patients and the staff that care for them, honour kidney donors, and celebrate transplant anniversaries. The Tree of Hope captures the full spectrum of humanity including its struggles, hopes, and successes, and all illuminated together in one place.“

 

Val shared, “The three things Jordy wishes for in life are becoming a pilot, helping the homeless, and his mummy getting a new kidney. From an early age, Jordy has been fascinated by the world of flight, dreaming becoming a pilot. He is also deeply committed to his recycling mission for charity, even collecting stray bottles and cans during family walks always bringing a bag with him to collect them. A gift of cans of Blarney Brewing lager even travelled to his French granddad in Brittany and the empties returned on the ferry in Cork and ensure the recycling fee goes to the Irish Kidney Association!”

 

Val, who worked with tech giant APPLE for almost two decades, has spent the past ten years supporting vulnerable people experiencing homelessness bringing warm clothing including socks, underwear, food, and crucial human connection. Some of the people she helps are living with addiction, in and out of recovery or have mental health issues, and while situations can sometimes be volatile, she prides herself in not tolerating disrespect, is trusted, and her phone number is freely shared and they know she is always just a phone call away and will come to meet them whenever she can. Val explained that she sees her phone as a “street phone” and her red car as a “streetcar”! All three – Val, her phone, and her car – are on the go throughout the year reaching out to as many as possible.

 

Recently, Val’s declining kidney function has forced her to reduce her nightly street work, and she would meet her “street friends” as she affectionately likes to call them, mostly by day, and nearly every day. Yet she remains humble and patient, saying other kidney patients are in more urgent need of a transplant and she is willing to wait her turn.

 

Val emphasises how important it is that for her son Jordy there is no mystery or fear surrounding her illness. “I have always been open with Jordy about my condition, bringing him with me to Cork University Hospital for some of my appointments so he can understand what kidney failure means and why I sometimes become exhausted. This openness has only strengthened his determination to help and gives him a sense of empowerment.”

 

Val attributes her son Jordy’s empathy to him growing up alongside her illness, a different experience from his 24-year-old brother who now happily lives in Australia and knew his mum when she was in full health. Jordy’s day-to-day experience of her condition naturally makes him more involved and drives his passion to fundraise so that he can help others. Val explained, “For Jordy, each light on the IKA’s virtual Tree of Hope represents a step toward hope for kidney patients like me.”

 

Val and Jordy are sharing their story to raise awareness about the work of the Irish Kidney Association in supporting kidney patients and their families as well as the importance of sharing our wishes about organ donation with our next-of-kin, with Christmas being an opportune time when families gather for the festive season.

To dedicate a light on the Irish Kidney Association’s Tree of Hope visit www.ika.ie/hope/