Athlone man’s “second chance” at life after kidney transplant

AN ATHLONE man who underwent a life-changing kidney transplant four months ago has thanked the donor who, he said, has “given me a second chance at life”.

38-year-old Noel Marsden, from the Ballymahon Road in Athlone, underwent the transplant in November.
As Organ Donor Awareness Week takes place (March 31 to April 7), he has taken the opportunity to reflect on the impact the experience has had on him.
“It's four months ago,” he said. “It's really in the last month that I've been able to do stuff.
“I'm grateful to the donor. They had a tough decision to make,” he added.
Noel, an IT developer, who lives in Portlaoise, said it has had a profound impact on his life. “It has made a big difference. The main difference is I have more energy and I have more time to do things and see family and friends. It is going good now,” he said.
While he still has regular checks, it is far less intense than when he was on dialysis.
It all started eight years ago when Noel experienced infections including in his ear and throat, which led to him being referred to Beaumont Hospital. There it was confirmed that his kidneys were failing.
He underwent a course of haemodialysis dialysis treatment and plasma exchange every day for two weeks after which time his kidneys started to make a moderate recovery.
The treatment was no longer required and his condition was managed for two years with medication and dietary changes. However, in 2012, his kidney condition flared up again as his renal function declined considerably. Then he commenced a form of home dialysis, peritoneal, which he continued with for a year.
Noel explained: "This home treatment therapy was not working well for me and I hardly had the energy to walk. This left me with no option but to start attending hospital for haemodialysis treatment, which I underwent in Beaumont Hospital and also at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore.  I continued to travel three times a week for my four-and-a-half hour dialysis treatment while still holding down a full-time job. Although the dialysis was keeping me alive I was very tired  with it and I found it difficult to find the energy to work an eight-hour day and then travel for dialysis.  I am very grateful that a donor came  along in November 2017 after almost five years of dialysis treatment."
He added: "My donor kidney has transformed my life.”
“Although I experienced some complications initially following the  transplant, it is now working very well. I am now enjoying life away from dialysis, free from diet and fluid restrictions, and I can spend more time with my daughter, family and friends.”
While a dialysis patient, Noel represented Ireland as part of Transplant Team Ireland at the European Transplant & Dialysis Sports Championships in 2016 which were held in Finland. He took home a bronze for a swimming event.
Then, last year, he represented Ireland at the British Transplant Games where once again he won three gold medals and a bronze, in swimming and table tennis events.
Noel said he was happy to share his story for Organ Donor Awareness Week and hopes that, in doing so, he can encourage more people to support organ donation.

Organ Donor Cards can be obtained by phoning the Irish Kidney Association 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050 or visit www.ika.ie/card