Mayo and Cork spread family's extraordinary transplant story

An extraordinary series of events unfolded for a family spread across Cork and Mayo, in 2023, culminating in three kidney transplants in the space of six months. 

Claremorris resident Michael Cott donated his kidney to his brother Joe Cott in 2023 after being declared 'a perfect match'.

A hereditary condition called polycystic kidney disease (PKD) was present in their family.

The brothers grandmother passed away at just 46 years old from the disease, which was inherited by their father, Joseph Cott, who, unfortunately, passed away in 2023 following a short illness.

Having received a kidney transplant over three decades earlier, their father was able to live a full and healthy life, something his family found solace in.

Before his passing, Mr Cott had received the good news that his son Joe would soon receive a donor kidney from his other son, Michael. 

Joe Cott, a farmer living in Cork, had only been on dialysis for a few weeks before his younger brother Michael Cott, an engineer living in Claremorris, was happy to step up to donate a kidney. 

In April 2023 the two brothers underwent their living donor kidney transplant operations at Beaumont Hospital, a poignant outcome that brought comfort to all their families amidst their bereavement.

Mr Cott acknowledged his very luck for not having to go on the transplant waiting list, and that his younger brother ‘stepped up, and it turned out he was the perfect match’.

As the brothers underwent the life changing procedure, their aunt Margaret Fitzgerald and her son Michael navigated the complexities of their own kidney failure.

However, soon after, fate intervened in unexpected ways. 

In late September, Mr Fitzgerald, received an unexpected call to travel to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for a kidney transplant. 

Ms Fitzgerald described how overjoyed she was to witness her son's transformation and new lease of life made possible by the family of a deceased donor.

Mr Fitzgerald, said he couldn’t ’put into words’ the extent of his gratitude to the family of his deceased donor for ‘transforming’ his life and ‘freeing [him] up from sickness, and restrictions, and being tied to dialysis’, which he had twice a week for 21 months at Cork University Hospital.

But there were more surprises in store for the family, as just under seven weeks later, Ms Fitzgerald herself received the call for a transplant, a twist of fate that left her reeling with disbelief and gratitude.

_{Joe Cott with his aunt Margaret Fitzgerald, and cousin Michael Fitzgerald (Pic:John Allen)}

“My kidney function had reduced to below ten percent, and I was just about to commence dialysis treatment when I got called for my transplant. Although I had not been well and felt exhausted for a very long time, I had no idea just how much difference a transplant would make,” said Ms Fitzgerald.

Calling the transplant ‘life-changing’, Ms Fitzgerald said her energy ‘immediately’ soared. 

She added: “It still amazes me how simple things in life are so much easier now, like having boundless energy to spend a day shopping or spending time with my grandchildren. I could not believe it when I got called and when I woke up after my transplant operation it almost felt magical like ‘poof’ a total transformation.”

With each successful transplant, the family's spirits soared, uplifted by the generosity of their donors and the promise of a brighter, healthier future. 

Speaking about the family's three-in-a-row transplants, Ms Fitzgerald commented on the ‘longevity’ of her brother’s transplant, which lasted ‘over three decades’, as well as the ‘incredible quick succession’ of transplants their family received. 

“Having two successful transplants for my nephew and son close together was so unexpected, but I was in total disbelief when I also got called for a transplant just seven weeks after my son’s. I had resigned myself to having to wait for a few years and was just happy that my son and nephew’s transplants were a success,” she concluded,

The Fitzgeralds and Cott expressed their gratitude for the support they received from the Irish Kidney Association throughout their health journeys. 

They are staunch advocates for organ donor awareness and are sharing their uplifting story to support Organ Donor Awareness Week 2024.  

Organised by the Irish Kidney Association in association with Organ Donation Transplant Ireland, Organ Donor Awareness Week takes place from April 20-27.

The key campaign message continues to be built around sharing your wishes and have conversations with your loved ones about organ donation.

By requesting an organ donor card you are letting the over 600 people, and their families, who are currently waiting for ‘the call’ that there are people out there who are thinking of them. 

With approximately only 1 percent of deaths occurring in the circumstances of potential organ donation, the Irish Kidney Association said opportunities cannot be missed because a person’s wishes are unknown.

You can request Organ Donor Cards via the Irish Kidney Association website, or you can download a ‘Digital Organ Donor Card’ from the App Store and the Google Play Store.