Organ donation: Bangor man given 'new life' with double lung transplant
Paddy McNamara had a terminal lung condition before life-saving surgery
A County Down man who received a life-saving double lung transplant is urging others to talk to their families about organ donation this organ donation week.
Paddy McNamara from Bangor received a lifesaving double-lung transplant in March 2023.
He had been diagnosed with a terminal lung condition and had to have oxygen.
Paddy told Downtown Cool FM he will be 'forever grateful' to his donor:
“When diagnosed with Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2018, even taking a breath, something we take for granted, was difficult.
"Now I am able to enjoy life again.
"I can say that without my donor and their family, I wouldn’t be here today, I am very grateful.”
In Northern Ireland there are currently 155 people waiting for life-saving organs.
New laws mean most adults here are considered potential organ donors after their death, unless they actively opt out.
But Paddy says it is still important to have that conversation with loved ones:
"Every donor, or every life saver as we like to call them can save up to nine lives and in every one of them a wee bit of that person will live on.
"You need to have the discussion, no matter how many people you may tell, you need to tell your loved ones."