Tributes paid to Tipperary kidney transplant pioneer Ned Crowe who has died

The death has occurred of Ned (Edward) Crowe from Carrick-on-Suir who made Irish medical history with his wife Deirdre 15 years ago when they became the first couple in the country to undergo a spouse-to-spouse living kidney transplant.

Mr Crowe from Oaklands, Carrick-on-Suir became the first person to receive a transplant of a kidney donated by his wife at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in March, 2008. He was 51-years-old at the time.

The Irish Kidney Association described the living donor transplant as a “landmark” operation, as all previous living transplants had been between blood relatives such as sibling to sibling and parent to child.

The father-of-three passed away at Waterford University Hospital last Thursday, October 12. His Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Nicholas Church in Carrick on Tuesday afternoon.

He is survived by his beloved wife Deirdre, his three sons David, Niall and Sean, his brother William, sisters Annette and Angela, parents- in-law Eamonn and Cotty O’Donnell, other relatives and friends.
Mr Crowe was an inspirational figure in the transplant community.

In the years after his operation he, along with Deirdre, were passionate advocates of organ donation.
Ned was very active in the Irish Kidney Association’s sports programme, Transplant Team Ireland and represented his country at several European Transplant & Dialysis Games and other international transplant competitions. He was an honorary member of Carrick-on-Suir Road Runners.

He was diagnosed with kidney failure, an hereditary condition, three years before he underwent his transplant. His three sisters also received kidney transplants. 

The summer before he underwent the transplant he suffered a serious infection and nearly died. Deirdre decided to take the selfless step of donating one of her kidneys to her husband after attending a polycstic kidney disease conference in the United States. She went onto qualify and work as a nurse, specialising in nursing dialysis patients.

The Irish Kidney Association has extended its deepest condolences to Mr Crowe’s family.

Ned passed away two days prior to the Irish Kidney Association’s 38th annual Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in Mullingar Cathedral last Saturday. The Crowe family had been due to attend the service as they did in previous years.

Eddie Flood, the Irish Kidney Association’s, national honorary Chairman issued a special message of sympathy to the Crowe family and Team Transplant Ireland members on the death of Ned in his welcome address to the congregation of more than 1,000 people.

Colin White, the Irish Kidney Association’s National Advocacy and Projects Manager and Transplant Team Ireland Manager, paid tribute to Ned’s contribution to Transport Team Ireland.

He recalled that Ned, Deirdre and their three sons joined the Transplant Team Ireland family in 2006. At the time, Ned was on peritoneal dialysis.

“They were regular attendees at our team meet ups in the ALSAA Sports Complex next to Dublin Airport and first travelled with the Ireland team to the 2006 European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Hungary.

 “Both Ned and Deirdre embraced the ethos of the team and it was not long before they were watching out for and supporting new team members.

“Ned competed in badminton and on the track in the early days and the Crowe family were big supporters of the 2010 European Games that were hosted by the IKA in Dublin.

 “Ned later went on to take up archery as an additional sport when competing at the British Transplant Games.

“Even though they did not travel to every Games, Ned and Deirdre carried on their connection with the Transplant Team Ireland family throughout and could be relied upon for a word of encouragement or congratulations to team members throughout.”

Mr White pointed out that the Irish Kidney Association facilitated Deirdre in attending the conference in the US on Polycystic Kidney Disease that subsequently led her to donate a kidney to Ned in March 2008, coincidentally during the Irish Kidney Association’s national Organ Donor Awareness Week.

“Happily, the operation went well and Ned and Deirdre could enjoy watching their three boys grow up.

“With a great fondness for music and travel, Ned and Deirdre were able to enjoy life. Ned was well supported by his employer, Abbott Vascular in Clonmel, during his health journey and Deirdre trained as a nurse and went into dialysis nursing.
 

“The Transplant Team Ireland family is a close knit one. We get to celebrate many wonderful stories, but we also lose very dear friends such as Ned but together we support each other.

“Whilst Ned is no longer with us, he will always be a part of the Transplant Team Ireland family as will Deirdre and their three sons,” Mr White concluded.

Carrick-on-Suir Road Runners also extended condolences to the Crowe family.

In a tribute posted on its Facebook page, the club recalled how Ned had been a regular at its winter leagues in Kildalton and annual mile challenge along with Deirdre. The couple were also regular volunteers at club events.

The club said it made Ned and Deirdre honorary members of Carrick Road Runners due to their history making transplant and Ned’s many successes at the European Transplant & Dialysis Championships.