A young woman who desperately needs a living kidney donor has said she is “overwhelmed” by the response from strangers who want to help.
Earlier this month Sorchá Shaw shared her experience with this newspaper, explaining how kidney disease has robbed her of precious years.
Kidney complications have impacted on her life since the age of 17.
Now aged 25, Sorchá recently received devastating news from her doctor that she would not be placed on the deceased donor waiting list.
Because she previously suffered a heart attack, doctors want her to have the best quality kidney possible to reduce the chance of complications from the transplanted kidney ‘waking up’ or starting to work.
Sorchá’s eyesight has also deteriorated due to her condition and she is fearful of going blind.
The Kilrea woman was encouraged to spread the word to increase her chances of finding a donor.
Speaking about that response, Sorchá said: “I’ve had loads of people message me on here from my post and the papers.
“I remember getting the first message and I went on to check and the whole thing just blew up with people sharing and commenting on the post.
“I didn’t think 10 people would engage with the post.
“I think I’ve had at least 120 or more. People reach out and a lot of people have told me they have sent their questionnaires in and all.”
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She added: “It’s very overwhelming, it’s hard to explain but if you compare it to the number of people I have in my life, it’s unbelievable, it’s been an information overload.”
At present treatment is taking its toll on Sorchá. She is on dialysis to remove waste products and excess fluid from her blood when as her kidneys have stopped working properly.
That leaves her physically drained with doctors likening it to the feeling people have after running a marathon.
Explaining that she is more hopeful of finding a donor and getting better, Sorchá said: “It has restored my faith in humanity. I thought people would be more worried about their own lives.”
Finding a match is still “extremely difficult”, Sorchá said, as she invited others to consider registering to become a living donor, a process that is open to everybody.
She said the living donor team at Belfast City Hospital are “fantastic and so good” at guiding anyone interested through the process of becoming a living donor for her or anyone else.
Details can be found on their website www.donatelife.co.uk
“My details are Sorcha Shaw 28/10/1999 I’m more than grateful for these opportunities.
“They send out a questionnaire just on general health and lifestyle and the most eligible people based on that will be blood and tissue typed tested.”