Siblings share the greatest gift of all

When it comes to best presents ever given by one sibling to another, Denise Waldron probably has the prize sewn up with ribbons on – because what the Galway barrister gave to her younger brother Raymond was the gift of a new life.

And, with this year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week beginning on Saturday, the Salthill brother and sister wanted to tell the story of their living donor kidney transplant to inspire others to sign up and potentially give others that same second chance.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017, was the day that changed everything for Raymo, a carpenter/joiner who lives in Salthill with his wife Ethna and their three children, Isabel (10), twins Harry and Amy (8). Because that was the day Raymo received a donor kidney from Denise – and it brought to an end his declining kidney function, diagnosed fifteen years previously.

Denise, who also lives nearby in their native Salthill, said that “giving a kidney to my brother Raymond, changed all of our lives for the better”.

Making it even more of a family affair, while they were both undergoing their transplant surgery at Beaumont Hospital, their brother, Consultant Neurosurgeon David O’Brien, was operating in the adjoining theatre!

Read the full heartwarming story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now – or you can download our digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie

Organ Donor Awareness Week runs until April 3. Organ Donor Cards can be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.