Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association

Transplant Support Meetings

A gentle reminder that the next transplant group will be next Monday 22nd October. This is one week earlier than usual as the following week is a bank holiday.

Based on feedback from the last group the time is also different- it will be from 1-3pm.

For this group we will be joined by Denise O'Reilly, Art Therapist, who has very generously offered her input to the group.

Time: 1-3pm

Topic: Art Therapy

Location: Centre for Nurses Education, 14 Nelson Street, Phibsborough, Dublin 7 (the same location as the last group)

Tea, coffee and biscuits/ fruit will be provided.

We hope to see you there.

Heart and Lung Transplantation Masterclass

Date: Tuesday 23^rd October 2018

Location: Level 6 St Cecelia’s Meeting Room, Whitty Building.

Time: 2pm – 4pm.

Interactive Sessions: Specialist Nurses, Physiotherapist, Pharmacist, Medical Social Worker.

Open to Heart and Lung Transplant Recipients and Caregivers.

As number are limited, booking is required, please contact the Heart and Lung Transplant Unit.

Refreshments sponsored by the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association

Organ Donation Awareness Day - Postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstance, we have been forced to postpone our awareness day this Friday. Stay tuned for a new date.

Patient-Donor Thank You Messages

Transplant can have a significant impact on a person’s life and those around them. The gift of life is the greatest gift to receive. On reflection, the transplant recipient may like to express gratitude to their donor family, whose kindness is an example to us all.

Post Heart Transplant Nurse Specialist Barbara Parlon and Medical Social Worker Tara Whelan developed an educational leaflet to guide post heart & lung transplant patients should they choose to say ‘thank you’ to their donor family. Remember this is a personal choice – for some people, they may not wish to contact their donor family. We all have different ways of saying thank you.

Receiving communication from the transplant recipient may provide comfort to the donor family and acknowledge the gift of life received.

IHLTA Organ Donation Awareness Day

In honour of European Organ Donation Awareness Day 2018, the IHLTA will be staging our own day in the Mater Hospital on Friday October 12, 2018.

We will have information stands situated at the Eccles Street door to the hospital as well as in the corridor near the NCR entrance. As such, we would ask members who might be interested in manning the stands for a time to contact us.

To register your interest, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it stipulating your preferred time.
Thanks as always.

Please pop by and say hello should you happen to be in the hospital on the day.

HEART TRANSPLANT FATHER TO RAISE ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS WITH 212 KM CYCLE FROM DUBLIN TO GALWAY

To celebrate his life giving heart transplant and raise awareness for organ donation Dubliner Ken Mulkerrins, will cycle 212 kilometers across Ireland from his Dublin home tomorrow morning (Friday 17th August) to the symbolic Circle of Life Garden in Salthill, Galway, the national commemorative garden for organ donors.

The 39 year old father of two and former Irish Kayaking Champion will depart tomorrow (17th August) at 8am from his Lucan home in Oldbridge Park and will make an overnight stopover in Ballinasloe (from 5pm approx) before resuming his journey on Saturday morning (18th August) to the Circle of Life Garden in Salthill where he expects to be greeted by family, friends and supporters as well as Denis and Martina Goggin, whose brainchild was to develop the symbolic Circle of Life garden to honour organ donors including their late son Eamonn who passed away in 2006 when he was just 26 years old.

Following his transplant in 2016 Ken achieved his goal of completing his first 5km run, just six months after a call for his life saving transplant. Determined to embrace his second chance of life and honour his deceased donor. Ken's own brother-in-law underwent a kidney transplant before Ken himself learned that he would also require a transplant, a heart. You can follow Ken's event on his Facebook page 'Powered by the Gift of Life" .