Mum of two ‘on the side lines' awaiting heart transplant

Over 160 people in Northern Ireland are ready and waiting for an organ donation.

Organ donation can offer a second chance at life, to those who are suffering with life threatening injuries or diseases.

NHS figures for the financial year 2024/25 show there was a total of 44 deceased donors and 68 living donors in Northern Ireland.

The transplant waiting list at the end of that period had 163 patients on the active list; this means 163 people here can be called at any time to be told there is an organ ready for them.

Of that 163, 90 are waiting for a kidney, 40 are waiting for a liver, and 18 need a heart.

The only solid organ that is transplanted in Northern Ireland is kidneys. According to a Belfast Trust consultant, this is because the number of people who require a heart, lung or liver is 'too small for us to be really good at doing it.'

Although Northern Ireland leads the UK in having the highest number of deceased organ donors, a Belfast Trust Nephrology Consultant is emphasising the need for awareness around donation.

Aisling Courtney says being on the waiting list can cause a great burden for families.

She spoke to Downtown/CoolFM: "There is the physical toll that it takes, and also the psychological toll. Very sadly, the reality is that some people deteriorate so much when they are waiting, and so they become unfit and unsuitable to be transplanted."

She highlighted how important it is for people to opt in to be organ donors, saying the best thing about her job is the impact it can have on someone's life: "I've been doing this job for quite a long time and I still get very excited about that fact that actually, you take a kidney from someone, put it into someone else, and the next day they wake up and already feel better.”

“It's an amazing thing.... the miracle of giving new life to someone by giving them a kidney transplant."

Because Belfast solely focuses on Kidneys, those who need transplants for other organs must go elsewhere.

Almost 20 people are waiting for a lifesaving heart transplant in Northern Ireland.

Many can be on the waiting list for a long time, as finding a suitable donor depends on your size, your blood type and your condition.

Mum of two, Daniella Termonia, was born with congenital heart disease. She was moved into the ‘emergency’ category for a heart transplant over a year ago.

The Ballymena woman says doing simple tasks now feel impossible, and that climbing stairs, is her version of Mount Everest.

She has two children, 9-year-old Shay and 6-year-old Luna-Mae. With her health deteriorating, the mum of two feels like she's watching life from the side lines.

The 36-year-old told us it’s heart breaking she can't be more involved with her children: "I want to be doing things; I want to be making memories. I try to, I really try. Then I get the punch in the face reminder... that I have to sit down. It breaks my heart."

"Day to day life has changed quite dramatically in the last few years, to the point where I'm on the side lines now, just watching everybody else."

With life getting harder, she told us it's severely impacting her mental health: "I'm generally quite a positive person... but my positivity has kind of dwindled... I'm scared now. I genuinely am scared."

Without a heart transplant facility in Northern Ireland, Daniella must travel to Newcastle to be treated. This means she must always be within 45 minutes of Belfast International Airport; in case she gets that all important call.

She's calling for there to be a facility here in Northern Ireland for heart transplants, as going to England for treatment is disrupting to both her and her family’s life.

We have contacted the Department of Health for comment.

She's encouraging everyone to have the conversation about organ donation.

Joining Daniella and Kidney Consultant Aishling Courtney, in calls encouraging organ donation, is Gregory Walsh.

The 55-year-old from Lurgan received a lifesaving heart transplant back in 2018, after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2011.

Before falling sick, the father of two went from being a fit and healthy referee, to needing crutches to walk. He could no longer play with his children, do the work he loves, or be involved in sports and fitness.

However, thanks to his transplant, he’s got a 'second chance at life.'

Gregory spoke to Downtown/CoolFM about his gratitude towards his donor's family: "I thank my donor's family every day. I know they have lost somebody special to them. But thank God they and the donor had agreed to organ donation. If they hadn't, I wouldn't be here."

He received his transplant on the 1st of January 2018: "It's a sad day for them (the family) every year… I just can't thank them enough that during their hard time, they thought of someone else."

He told us what life is like now: "It's just fulfilling. Every day is an extra day. The two children, who are now 17 and 15, just to spend time with them, spend time with my wife. I know, that if I hadn't have got that transplant, they would be without a dad."

The Lurgan man feels he has a new lease of life, and is off to compete in the World Transplant Games this summer.

He wants to encourage everyone to think about organ donation and emphasises how it can save lives.