A woman who needs a life-saving kidney transplant has told how she has found a donor - by calling into a radio show.
Jillian McNulty, 43, is hoping to undergo the crucial operation in the coming weeks after a stranger offered her one of his, RSVP Live reports.
She said: “I was on the radio talking about how none of my family are a tissue match.
“I said, kind of as a joke, that if there was anyone out there who wanted to give me a kidney that they should get in touch.
“I didn’t think for a second that anyone would. Seven people rang in.”
Sean, who doesn’t want to reveal his full name, was one of the people who called RTE’s Ray D’Arcy Show.
Jillian said: “He’s 43 and from Tipperary, but he wants to remain anonymous.
“He’s a brilliant guy, he’s ready with his bag packed for if and when we get the go ahead for the operation.
“To think that a complete stranger would offer me part of their body and undergo major surgery…It’s just unbelievable.
“There are so many good people out there.
“Hopefully it will all work out and I’ll have a new kidney in the next few weeks!”
Longford woman Jillian is not only in kidney failure - she also has Cystic Fibrosis, so doctors need to tread very carefully.
“There is a new drug called Symkevi, which is in conjunction with Orkambi is highly effective at treating the symptoms of CF - it’s not a cure but it’s almost there.
“But it may interact with immunosuppressants, so my doctors need to make sure I can take Symkevi after I get the kidney transplant - there’s no point in me having a good kidney but it being detrimental to my lungs.
“Thanks to Orkambi my lung function is around 45% at the moment so I can mostly live a normal life - it’s mostly my kidney failure that’s affecting me now.
“I’ve been very weak recently, and I’m constantly dehydrated. Yesterday I collapsed out of the blue while out shopping with my mother.”
Jillian is a prominent campaigner for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers and organises a fundraising Valentine’s Ball every year.
