Conversations about being a donor can help Northern Ireland boy on transplant list

The family of a three-year-old boy from Northern Ireland who is waiting for a heart transplant have urged people to make their wishes known on organ donation.
Dáithí, 3, who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, with his dad Máirtín Mac Gabhann taking part in their Coffeesation initiativeDáithí, 3, who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, with his dad Máirtín Mac Gabhann taking part in their Coffeesation initiative
Dáithí, 3, who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, with his dad Máirtín Mac Gabhann taking part in their Coffeesation initiative

Dáithí Mac Gabhann, who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, which essentially means he only has half a working heart, has been waiting on the gift of a new heart for over two years.

His campaigning family from Belfast, who set up the Donate4Dáithí campaign to raise awareness of organ donation, have come up with a virtual initiative called ‘Coffeesation’ to encourage people to have a chat over a cup of coffee or tea with their loved ones in order to make their wishes known on organ donation.

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According to the Transplant Activity Report 2020, 140 families in the UK said no to organ donation because they were unsure of their loved ones’ wishes on the issue.

Dáithí’s mother Seph Ní Mhealláin said this alarming statistic was a major motivating factor in coming up the Coffeesation that will be running over Organ Donation Week from today until Sunday

She said: “Every year, families refuse to donate their loved ones organs as they are unsure of their wishes.

“Considering that one organ donor has the potential to save up to nine lives, this is very worrying.

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“We think Coffeesation is a very simple but effective way to get families to share their wishes on organ donation with their loved ones and have that all important conversation.”

Dáithí’s father Máirtín Mac Gabhann said: “Only 1% of the population will pass away in circumstances where organ donation can take place and if families do not know what their loved ones’ wishes are then a precious gift of life can be lost for those enduring the agonising wait on an organ.

“We’re encouraging everyone to take part in this very simple initiative during Organ Donation Week that could potentially save lives.”

In July Health Minister Robin Swann announced his commitment to introduce soft opt-out organ donation to NI.

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It means adults would be considered an organ donor unless they specified otherwise. The decision follows years of campaigning for such a law change.

Head of British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland Fearghal McKinney said: “Our poll shows the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland back this change to soft opt-out organ donation with 73% in support, but there is still some way to go before this change happens.

“We will always need people to have conversations with their families to make their wishes known on organ donation and sign-up to the organ donation register.

“I would urge people to grab their tea and coffee cups and do just that this Organ Donation Week.”