Liver transplant recipient hosts benefit night in Carrick-on-Suir for Dublin hospital

Caption for photo above: Liver transplant recipient Sandra Collins (née Kehoe) and her husband John at the benefit night she and her family organised for St Vincent's Hospital Liver Transplant Unit. The couple are expecting their first child in December. 

This time last year Sandra Collins faced her biggest challenge yet when she returned home from her honeymoon to undergo cancer treatment that was followed shortly afterwards by a liver transplant.

After coming out the other side of these major health crises, Sandra and her husband John are looking forward to the future with their first child due to be born in December.

“It's an absolute miracle and we are so looking forward to the baby’s arrival but also a bit nervous,” said Sandra (née Kehoe) whose dad Jimmy hails from Treacy Park Carrick-on-Suir.

Sandra and her family, who live in Piltown a few miles from Carrick, organised a benefit night in the Carraig Hotel in aid of St Vincent’s University Hospital Liver Transplant Unit as a thank you for the surgery that has both saved and transformed her life.

The benefit night including raffle and auction on Saturday, September 23 was a wonderful upbeat evening that raised awareness about the importance of organ donation as well as raising funds.

It was also an occasion for Sandra and her family to celebrate the successful outcome of her liver transplant just ten months earlier and the end of a turbulent year for the newly wed.

Sandra was diagnosed with the auto-immune disease, Chronic Active Hepatitis, 15 years ago at the age of 20, and was later put on the liver transplant list.

She married John Collins from Portroe in September last year.

During their honeymoon overseas, the hospital rang Sandra to tell her that they had discovered tumour markers in her bloods.

The couple returned immediately to Ireland and Sandra was admitted to hospital where she underwent Trans Arterial Chemoembolization (TACE) treatment, a procedure that directly delivers chemotherapy to the tumour via the hepatic artery.

Sandra underwent further TACE treatment and then received a call from the hospital on November 21 to tell her a donor liver was available. She was brought straight to the hospital and tests were carried out to check the donor liver was viable.

It was, and the following morning at 4.30am the medical team arrived and Sandra was prepped.

Her family, who were also at the hospital, waited anxiously to hear if the liver transplant was going ahead as a thorough investigative check was needed on Sandra’s own liver to see if the cancer was contained. If it had spread, they couldn’t proceed with the transplant.

Thankfully, the cancer was contained and the nine-hour liver transplant operation went ahead. Sandra spent two days in ICU after the operation and was then moved to St. Bridgid’s Ward for further recovery.

Sandra spoke of the high standard of care she received during her treatment and praised the medical staff for their expertise, kindness and dedication to the care of others, which was outstanding.

Sandra thanks the medical team at St Vincent’s Hospital and the physiotherapists who helped her get back on her feet again.

She also sincerely thanks the donor family and emphasised the importance of raising awareness of organ donation.

“It is so important and necessary to discuss organ donation as it potentially offers hope and life to others,” she said.

Sandra thanks all those who gave her tremendous support especially her husband John, her family and close friends .

She is thrilled and relieved to be feeling vibrant and well again after so many years of sickness.

Sandra and her family wish to thank all who attended and supported the benefit night; all the businesses who sponsored raffle prizes and the Carraig Hotel for the use of the function room and sponsorship.

They also thank Carraig Bróg for the music and all who generously supported the auction of three county jerseys from the Tipperary, Waterford and Kilkenny GAA teams with each one signed by the respective county teams.

The benefit night has so far raised €8,000 with some funds still to come in.

A cheque will be presented to St Vincent’s Hospital when the final proceeds are collected.