My name is Deirdre Faul. In 2003 I had a Liver Transplant after suffering acute liver failure. Two days before my transplant I had entered hospital due to suspected gallstones, as it turned out I needed an urgent liver transplant without which I would have died. I had no pre-existing liver disease, no signs and symptoms, no time to prepare or think about the consequences of transplantation. However I am not going to write about how difficult it is to hear the words 'you need to have a liver transplant', it is earth shattering or how sick I was post transplantation, which I was, extremely or how hard it was to come to terms with having had a transplant. I think the key to doing well after transplantation is to try to return to as normal a life as possible, hopefully better and healthier than before. I have thought about how I managed to get healthy and stay healthy and think it is worth sharing.

1. Accept what has happened, focus on the future. Try not to dwell on “why me”, “what have I done to deserve this”. The past is the past, for whatever reason it has happened and there is nothing you can do about it, except accept it.

2. Give yourself time to recover properly. Take the afternoon naps, rest when you need to.

3. Do not isolate yourself. Accept all offers of support be it from family, friends, neighbours, local community, a support group, your doctor or your hospital. If you are unsure about anything ask someone, be proactive about your health.

4. Take your medication, take your mediation, take your medication.

5. Eat well and exercise.

6. Do something you have a passion for, whether that is reading, writing, gardening, music or sport. Socialise, perhaps join a club, and participate in group activities. This is hugely important and for me was a major part of my recovery.
Today I am proud to be a member of Transplant Team Ireland. Since joining the team in 2005 my outlook as a transplanted individual and what I could achieve has completely changed. Transplant Team Ireland has given me a way to honour my Donor and raise awareness of the importance of organ donation. The team is such a positive, welcoming group of people, friends with shared experiences celebrating life through sport. It has allowed me to play sport and represent Ireland at competitions in places like Hungary, Bangkok, Germany, and Australia, to name a few. Transplant Team Ireland is my go to support group. I often wonder if I hadn’t been brave enough to step out of my comfort zone and contact Colin White, Transplant Team Ireland’s team manager at the Irish Kidney Association how different the last 17 years could have been.

“It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.” –Confucius