The late Kevin McEvoy from Graiguecullen died just six weeks after the birth of his first child
By Carmel Hayes
THE heartbroken sister of a young Laois man, who died while on a heart transplant waiting list, is urging people to discuss organ donation with their families.
Kevin McEvoy (34) from the Killeshin Road, Graiguecullen passed away last September while on a transplant list. He had become a dad just six weeks earlier.
At the launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week, which will run from 20 to 27 April, his sister Sarah McEvoy spoke about the tragedy that faced her family during Kevin’s final days.
A much-loved husband, brother and son, Kevin died at the Mater Hospital, Dublin following a heroic battle with serious heart issues. In 2019, he was diagnosed with life-limiting heart failure and was placed on the transplant list. Sadly, the miracle everyone desperately hoped for wasn’t to be.
Kevin was husband to Deborah, dad to their six-week-old son Keelin, treasured son to John and Elizabeth (née Byrne) and much-loved brother of Peter, Eoin and Sarah.
On behalf of the Irish Kidney Association (IKA), Sarah told the gathering at the launch in Dublin: “I could stand here for hours and talk about how strong my brother was and how much of a fighter he was until the end but none of that matters.
“Kevin surviving depended on many things. His life depended on a new heart. A heart that belonged to someone else. There was a shortage of suitable donors. No suitable heart.”
Sarah encouraged families to “have the organ donation conversation”, as carrying a donor card does not guarantee that their organs will be donated following their death. Currently, next of kin must still be asked to agree to donation of their loved one’s organs, which is a very difficult decision to make at a devastating time.
Sarah said: “The truth is, we are shattered by our loss but we don’t want another family to endure this pain. If our story prompts even one person to discuss their wishes regarding organ donation with their family, it would spare multiple families the pain we feel every day.”
Health minister Stephen Donnelly praised the IKA for its impact on the Human Tissue Act, which introduces an opt-out system whereby everyone is presumed to be a potential donor unless they indicate otherwise. The opt-out donor system is expected to be in operation before the end of this year.
This year’s Organ Donor Awareness Week campaign is built around the theme ‘Don’t Leave Your Loved Ones in Doubt’.
The key message is that people can play their part by ensuring that their families know their wishes around organ donation. Sharing your wishes when you are in good health makes it a less stressful decision for your family, in the event of being approached about your being a potential organ donor.
People are encouraged to: Have the ‘Organ Donation Conversation’; Get an Organ Donor Card, or add Code 115 to your driving licence; Encourage friends and family to share their wishes too.
At any time in Ireland, there are between 550 and 600 people on waiting lists for organ transplants including heart, lung, liver, kidney, and pancreas. They are all waiting on the ‘Gift of Life’.
More information is available at www.ika.ie
