I’ve just finished reading one of the funniest, most touching and ironic blog posts I’ve ever had the pleasure to find. Ann lives in the West of Ireland and has a son, Rory, who was born without kidneys. She spent the first four years of his life travelling from Galway to Dublin, three days a week for Rory’s dialysis treatment. In November 2007, Rory’s Dad donated his left kidney to his son. Transplant News is the story of what happened next.
Ann writes with incredible candour, courage, energy and good humour about her struggles to get Rory the care he needs and deserves. Her dealings with the HSE are seriously scary. In Ann’s own words…
“What the HSE giveth with one hand, it taketh away with the other!
On reflection, it may have been ill advised to have a chronically ill child while residing outside the greater Dublin area, what were we thinking? Be warned any of you out there who may be considering a similar lifestyle choice! But rules is rules and Rory has broken way too many in his short life and the powers that be are getting a tad tetchy. He defied them all by surviving, now it’s payback time! As our friend in Community Don’t Care likes to remind us, he has clocked up quite a bill with the state already.
I wonder if they’d give us a credit note for the kidney?”
Pop over and read Ann’s post Anyone seen my tooth? I challenge you to keep a straight face.
Biopsy Report 
I’m very humbled by your kind words, many thanks. I’m also gobsmacked! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. This blogging business really takes a route of its own once you start. I initially set up mine as a short cut to keeping friends and family informed of the lads’ progress during the transplant and here I am still posting almost a year later. It’s been a godsend really, as I’m sure you will agree, to have a space to vent when you are confronted by the inhumanity of our health system. Many many thanks for your support.
Ann – No need to thank me. I know a good thing when I see it and just wanted to share it around 😀
Was reading this article online when your comment popped up…
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2009/0303/1224242139949.html
Now I’m even more in admiration of you and the other kidney!
That article really nails it – I’ve sent it to many of my companions from the trenches in Temple St. They all agree, it’s quite weird to have a complete stranger describe your life to a T. I really have to educate myself more on the tech end of blogging – have to sort out this link and trackback lark. I’m afraid I’m very much still in the pass class when it comes to the gizmos.
I was over looking for the tooth earlier. I think the tooth fairy caught it when nobody was looking. 😉
Ann – Copy and paste, copy and paste, copy and paste 😀
If you only knew how non-techie I am, you’d roar laughing. I’m lucky to have not one, but three technical experts in this house who can lend a hand when I’m reduced to tears of defeat. A little bit of encouragement goes a long way but generally I find I learn a lot by trial and error.
Glad you found that article helpful. It was pure coincidence that it was published it today.
Grannymar – Those tooth fairies are wondrous things 😀
I recommend, if you haven’t already done so, that you go back to the beginning of Ann’s blog and read about the days immediately post-transplant. It’s beautifully written and uses humour to great effect. My emotions were in shreds just reading it so goodness knows how Ann coped so well. She definitely gets a ‘woman of steel’ award from me 😀
BTW Steph – about that whole ‘woman of steel’ thing? Don’t they say it takes one to know one 🙂
Ann –
I have just started following your blog. It has made me laugh, empathise, and I have enjoyed a thoroughly great read:). It appears there are deficiencies all over regarding medical systems. I thought ours was bad enough, but my heart goes out to all who have suffered under yours.
Kirst
Kirst – Hello and welcome!
Your comment is much appreciated. I have a love/hate relationship with this blog so it’s always nice to get a bit of encouragement.
Believe me, the NZ system of healthcare is hugely superior to what we have here. We have the expertise but the delivery of services, is massively under-resourced and inequitable. Healthcare workers are leaving in droves to work in NZ and Oz and frankly, I don’t blame them.
Think yourself lucky!