CF transplant survivor now helping others
William Bresnan, Rathdermott, Bansha, at home with his father Billy, sister Louise and Mary Behan. Picture: Mike Hoare
A Tipperary man, a year after undergoing a life saving double lung transplant operation, has made an emotional appeal to people to carry donor cards. Cystic Fibrosis sufferer twenty seven year old William Bresnan from Bansha has just celebrated the first anniversary of his seven hour operation at the Freeman hospital in Newcastle Upon Tyne which saved his life.William is now immersing himself in organising the third Purple Rose Bike Run with family and friends who have raised E24,000 already for vital CF projects in Cork and Limerick.He is enjoying a new lease of life having no longer to use a nebuliser for a couple of hours a day, he no longer has to wear an oxygen mask and does not have to carry an oxygen tank around with him when he goes out. He had been in and out of hospital all his life and his condition noticably worsened in recent years.
William, who was on a waiting list for two and a half years, had two false starts befoe the operation was performed at Newcastle hospital. He had twice made the trip to England but the operation had to be postponed at the last minute. He was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a condition that has already claimed the lives of his two brothers, 16 year old Alan who died in 2000 while seven year old Mark passed away in 1987.His sister, twenty two year old Louise is not a sufferer.William’s father Billy and his partner Mary Behan along with John Redfern and Bill Lynch, are organising the Purple Rose Bike Run which will be held this year on Saturday May 26twhen Tipperary County hurling manager Declan Ryan will lead the bikes off from the Market Yard in Tipperary Town on their journey to Bundoran. William hopes the bike run will not only raise money for crucial projects but will help raise awareness of the need to carry a donor card. Anybody wishing to become an organ donar can text - donor50050 and a donor card will be sent to them.“I would be dead only for a donor. I have lost ten friends in the last few years who were on waiting lists. Carrying a card can mean the world to seven or eight people who are on waiting lists,” said William.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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