Seven of our family were given the gift of a new life with kidney transplants

A FAMILY whose lives were transformed by kidney transplants have told of their gratitude to the relatives of deceased donors, whose loss has given them a second chance at life.

- BY DAIRE FITTON

Anne Hackett, who grew up in West Cork but now resides in Tipperary, was the latest of seven relatives to receive a kidney transplant, six years after her son Paul underwent the same procedure.

Kidney disease left its mark on Anne's life from an early age when her father was diagnosed at a late stage, which led to his death aged 49 after a year on dialysis.

In the years that followed, Anne's sisters — Bernadette, Marian and Helen — were each diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a hereditary condition that can cause kidney disease and, over the long term, complete kidney failure.

Anne was tested and advised she did not have the condition, but in her late 30s started experiencing kidney issues, and further testing confirmed PKD.

Her kidney function declined slowly, through monitoring, medication, healthy living and diet. It was not until her sixties she progressed to dialysis treatment.

However, those later years before her dialysis began took a toll.