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Two benefit from kidney donation

BY MICHELLE CREAN

A Killarney family are finding comfort after the death of their loved one as they took the decision to donate two of his organs to help others have a better quality of life.
The family of 25-year-old David Sheehy, who was a former student in St Brendan’s College, Killarney, say they are still devastated and saddened at his sudden passing in Australia on December 22.
However, this week they want to say a public thank you to everyone who helped during what was the most difficult time in their lives.
David’s mom Eileen Fitzgerald from Rockfield, Faha, said that the Fitzgerald and Sheehy families together would like to thank everyone for their support, sympathy and kindness on the recent loss of their beloved David.
They would also like to thank everyone who donated so generously to the GoFundMe page which received a total of €37,145, a fundraising campaign to help cover the costs
to bring David home to his final resting place.
Excess funds were donated to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
David had travelled to Australia in May where he was working as a carpenter.
Two of his kidneys were donated to two people in Australia giving them an improved quality of life, Eileen, who received a letter from NSW Organ Donation and Tissue Donation Service recently, told the Killarney advertiser this week.
“David’s kidneys were donated to help two people,” she said.
“I didn’t hesitate about organ donation because I thought why not if you can. What’s the point of taking them with you. Organ donation is crucial. There are two families in Australia that will have a better future because of it.”
She said getting the phone call on Friday, December 14, was a complete nightmare, but thanks to family, neighbours and friends and TD Michael Healy-Rae, she was able to get a flight to Australia almost immediately.
“The family support has been enormous and the help from Michael Healy-Rae who sorted getting the visa to get me to Australia. My niece Ciara de Mordha travelled out with me and was my right and my left hand for the week we were there. I just want to thank David’s friends Padraig O’Leary from Gneeveguilla – he picked up us at the airport in Australia, sorted out our accommodation and both he and his girlfriend Shelly O’Connor stayed with us the whole week. David’s school friend Dan O’Sullivan from Knockeragh, Killarney, who lives in Melbourne, travelled to Sydney also. Kay Cronin from Kilcummin set up the GoFundMe page. And my partner Brendan, his brother Donal and wife Marie who live in Australia, were just brilliant.
“You’d never imagine you’d be in a situation like that,” she said. “The support has been massive including the one-to-one care David received in the hospital.”
Remembering David, who has a younger sister Ellen (9) and brother Breandán (8), she added that he was a good son who will be dearly missed.
“He was full of life and full of fun. He was not a saint by any means - but we miss him terribly and his death has left a huge void in our lives forever.”
Months Mind Mass for David takes place on Friday, February 15, in the Sacred Heart Church, Milltown, at 7pm. And all are welcome, she added.