Superhero Daniel gives life-changing gift of kidney to his sister Aoife

Mother-of-one Aoife Adams, who works as a law lecturer in DkIT and lives in Park Avenue, was first diagnosed with Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease ten years ago. Thanks to a strict diet, she managed to maintain her kidney function and live a relatively normal life until her health deteriorated two years ago with the onset of kidney failure. She was referred to Beaumont Hospital early last year in the hope that a pre-emptive transplant might occur before she needed to start dialysis.

Both her husband Mark and her younger brother Daniel, who works in the civil service, put themselves forward to commence the screening process for living donation and, remarkably, both were a match. Daniel was a full-house match, which he was told is quite rare, and so took it upon himself to volunteer to donate his kidney as it was more likely to be successful.

The surgery took place on February 10th last year, and the following day, even though she was still feeling a bit groggy, Aoife knew it was a success.

'It felt like a fog had been lifted and I felt truly alive again,' she says.

Ten months later Aoife is enjoying a whole new lease of life.

Aoife and Mark's daughter Sophia is delighted to have her mammy back to full health with the energy to play with her, and she calls Daniel, who lives in Littlemills, her 'real-life superhero'.

'It is only now that I have my health back that I realise quite how unwell I was before,' says Aoife. 'Every day I am amazed at my energy levels, and every morning my scar reminds me of the marvels of modern medicine and the sacrifice my brother made so that I could have a second chance at living a healthy life. I don't take a moment for granted. I know I am extremely fortunate and have so much to be thankful for.'

The timing of the transplant was fortunate, as a couple of weeks later as the first lockdown began the transplant unit at Beaumont Hospital had to temporarily cease transplants due to COVID. The restrictions did, however, result in Daniel and his fiancée Mary having to postpone their wedding. They now hopes to get married in October and it will be a great celebration for all the family. Aoife and Daniel's parents Margaret and Frankie Watters are relieved and elated in equal measure that both of their children are now back to full health and are counting down the days until October.

Daniel says that he felt 'lucky to be in a position to donate the kidney to his only sibling'.

'I was first tested in October for donation and the surgery took place four months later. It was an extremely short process for us in comparison to others in similar situations.

'To see Aoife walking down the corridor in St Damien's ward before me was an extraordinary moment and seeing her able to lift Sophia now makes it all worthwhile. As my older sister, Aoife always looked out for me when I was younger (and still does!), so it was nice to be able to do something for her.'

Inspired by Daniel's wonderful deed, his future brother-in-law Derek ran his first marathon for the Irish Kidney Association and raised €900.

Aoife and Daniel want to express their sincerest gratitude to their respective surgeons, Professor Ian Robertson and Ms. Dilly Little, the staff on St. Damien's Ward and the Transplant Co-ordinators, at Beaumont Hospital, who took amazing care of them. Aoife would also like to thank Professor O'Meara, Ms. Barbara Gilman and the renal team in the Mater, under whose care she was for the last ten years.

They would also like to thank staff in the IKA Renal Support Centre at the Beaumont which provided great support during the week of the transplant.

Aoife, Daniel and their family have received so much kindness and generosity and want to extend their gratitude to their wider family, friends and colleagues, and to Derek for taking up the mantle of raising awareness of organ donation and much needed funds for the IKA during these unprecedented times for charities. They would like to give the biggest shout out to little Sophia. Aoife says 'she keeps everyone going, never failing to inspire us to keep going and to make us laugh'.

As this is Organ Donor Awareness Week, they are delighted to see that Louth County Council is joining in the nationwide initiative to light up public buildings green to celebrate organ donation and transplantation.