Irish lung recipient to run in Belfast Marathon one year after transplant

I never cease to be impressed and in awe of how lives can be transformed by an organ transplant and here is another example of how organ donors can pass on life-changing opportunities to others who would not be alive today without their precious gift. Have you registered to be an organ and tissue donor? Links are at the bottom of this post. Thanks.

By Will Leitch BBC Reporter

A year ago, 23-year-old Ciaran Murphy from Newtownabbey just about managed to make it to the start of the Belfast marathon - in time to see everyone else set off. This year, after a life-saving operation, he is going to be running one of the relay legs himself.

Ciaran has cystic fibrosis - a common disease of the lung and digestive system.

But now he has had a double lung transplant and is in training for Monday's run.

Last year Ciaran was desperately ill, on 24-hour oxygen and waiting for a double lung transplant.

Ciaran started the runners in last year's Belfast City Marathon Fun Run alongside the Lord Mayor of Belfast and the very next day he got the call he had been waiting for - a new set of lungs was available.

He intends joining family and friends as part of a relay team.

"Thinking back to this time last year and watching my family and friends crossing the finish line, I thought I would never get the chance to do it myself," he said.

"Now, here I am nearly 12 months to the day later and getting ready to cross that finish line thanks to my new lungs.

"My story highlights the success of organ donation and how it's given me a new lease of life, this is my first step in putting these new lungs to full use.

"This is all down to that person or family donating their organs. I couldn't do this nor would I be here without someone making that decision to donate their organs after their death."

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here

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In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

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Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants (see allotransplantation). One tissue donor can help 75 to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. Organs can save lives, corneas renew vision, and tissue may help to restore someone's ability to walk, run or move freely without pain. Life Begins with You