Hugh Nolan from Doneraile, Co. Cork will represent Ireland at the European Transplant Sports Championships to be held in Lisbon Portugal from Sunday 21st July - 28th July 2024. This sporting event will be an invaluable opportunity to showcase the benefits of Organ Donation and it is a true celebration of the Gift of Life. Hugh had a Kidney transplant in 2015 after spending over 9 years on dialysis, 3 days a week for 9 years. Hugh says: Life is very tough on dialysis; I was in very poor health compared to life after my transplant. I am just so grateful that someone made the decision to register for organ donation. I think about that person all the time. I hope their loved ones take comfort from hearing the stories from organ transplant recipients. I hope our stories help people realise how the decision to be an organ donor changes lives and has changed mine so much.
This will be Hugh’s second Games, having particiapted in World Transplant Games in Perth 2023and he says: I enjoyed every aspect of those games. It is great motivation to travel and see places you might not have seen before and might not get to again. I really enjoyed being part of Team Ireland, representing my country and trying to encourage others. Seeing athletes from Ireland and the rest of the world is inspiring and knowing that we all share similar experiences, creates a bond that I wasn’t expecting and hadn’t experienced before. I hope attending games and letting people see life after dialysis helps inspire the people still on dialysis. I also hope the participants stories at these games helps promote organ donor awareness. I would also hope that the stories from these games gets more transplant recipients to come along to the next games.
Organ donors save lives. At any one time in Ireland there are between 550 and 600 people active on waiting lists for organ transplants including heart, lung, liver, bone marrow, kidney, and pancreas. Advising those waiting for a transplant, Hugh says: Life does get better after your transplant. Try to stay as healthy as you can. Try to be patient; hopefully the call will come soon. I am living a normal life now, trying to stay as healthy as I can, this soon will be you. I hope you are planning on attending transplant games in the future; there is a sport for everyone. Come along, you won’t regret it. Making friends and family aware of your wishes on organ donation are the key steps towards saving lives - TSI encourages everyone to Have the Conversation, Say ‘Yes’ to Organ Donation!