Matt backs Donor Awareness
CASTLEBELLINGHAM PUBLICAN WAITING ON A SECOND TRANSPLANT AFTER 18 YEARS
CASTLEBELLINGHAM publican Matt McAlevey is backing Organ Donor Awareness Week after a kidney transplant 18 years ago gave him a new lease of life.
While the Drumcar resident returned to dialysis treatment four years ago when his kidneys failed again, he is keeping his fingers crossed that he may receive another transplant.
Matt, who runs the Brewery Tavern in Castlebellingham, has been undergoing haemodialysis treatment, three times a week, for the past four years at the Beacon clinic in Drogheda, but he doesn’t let that stop him from enjoying life or supporting the Irish Kidney Association, as he has raised over €4,500 through events in the pub.
He travelled to Glasgow last weekend where his two daughters, Katie (15) and Holly (14) were competing in the World Irish Dancing Championships.
Matt explained ‘I was dis- appointed to have to return to dialysis treatment, but I am grateful to my deceased donor for my transplant which I received when I was thirty years old. This gift of life allowed me to get married, run my business and raise my family. I have two teenage daughters and a nineyear-old son. My wife Ciara is a nurse in Drogheda and she is a willing kidney donor but unfortunately after a health setback a year ago I was taken off the transplant waiting list and was just re-entered onto it a week ago. We will soon re-commence screening for living kidney donation’.
‘I had to make special arrangements for extra dialysis before I flew out to Glasgow last weekend with my daughters and I was back to the Beacon for more treatment on Monday morning,’ he said. ‘A transplant would make a huge difference to my quality of life as I would no longer be tied to a timetable around dialysis and I would have more energy to run my business. A transplant would give me the freedom to carry on with a normal life and have more energy to spend with my children. My son Mark is nine years old and plays football with Rock Celtic in Blackrock and I would like to have the energy to have a kick around with him. I would encourage everyone to support organ donation and it vastly improve or save the lives of people like me.’