Orla Tinsleyspeaks to Paul Minchin, who was named at the weekend as the first cystic fibrosis patient to receive a double lung transplant in Ireland
Paul Minchin was on his way to St Vincent's hospital for a check-up almost a month ago when he got the call that would change his life.
The caller said there was a possibility that his life-saving lung transplant operation could take place in the Mater hospital in Dublin that night.
"I didn't get time to think. I didn't know what to do, the phone nearly fell out of my hand," says Paul, from his home in Co Carlow.
Paul was on his way to St Vincent's to see his transplant consultant with members of his family.
His brother turned straight around and headed for the Mater before realising that he had no idea where they were going. "We called the Mater and they arranged for a taxi to meet us at Vincent's. Mam and I got in and my brother followed in the jeep," he says.
Paul, who has had cystic fibrosis from birth, was on the transplant list for three months.
Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, and can also cause osteoporosis, liver disease and a type of diabetes called cystic fibrosis related diabetes.
A transplant is required when patients reach what is known as "end stage" of the illness.
Paul says he knew his conditioning was worsening and that a transplant was his only option.
"I knew myself that after another year or two, I wouldn't have been around anymore. I was happy to go on the list," he says.
The family arrived at the Mater at 5pm that day where Paul was brought into the intensive care unit to prepare for the possibility of his double lung transplant. He washed and got ready for theatre. At this point Paul still did not know if the lungs were a correct match.
Godfrey Fletcher from the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland explains: "It's a game of chance to get the right match. There are lots of factors like blood group, weight and size," he says.
At 9.20pm that evening Paul and his mother were told the lungs were suitable and he went to theatre for the operation at 10.10 that night. He recalls his mother telling him that hospital staff came in and out telling her "the right lung is in, the left lung is out".
At 4am staff told her that "it couldn't have gone better".
Paul remembers waking up and having his mother, father and brother around him as well as the local parish priest. He says he couldn't talk because he was still on a ventilator but that he managed to ask for things and what time it was by signalling with his hands.
The transplant list for the Mater is believed to have begun to be complied about a year ago but this is the first transplant of a cystic fibrosis patient to take place in the Republic. It is seen as a ground-breaking developmnt which will reduce the hardship on such cystic fibrosis sufferers.
Until now, cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland have had to travel to Newcastle for their transplant. The centre caters for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the east of Britain.
Paul says he didn't know that there was a possibility of transplant before he went to St Vincent's. "It was really good news because it would have been harder in Newcastle and Mam would have had to be coming over and it's expensive. Hopefully now they'll have it for all CF patients," he says.
Paul left school after his Junior Cert because of his illness. "I felt school was a struggle and I wouldn't have been able to concentrate, I'm more a man of my hands anyway," he says.
Up to a year ago he enjoyed helping his brothers and father on their farm in Carlow. "I was feeling very well up to the last three or four years. I started getting very bad last year and was put on 24-hour oxygen which I carried around with me," he says. " I was on a peg feed as well and eating very little."
Paul attended St Vincent's for two years prior to his transplant and thinks the facilities there could be improved.
"I was in a six-bed ward and some people were dying. It wasn't very nice. The nurses there are A1, they're the nicest nurses going and are doing their absolute best, but they just haven't the facilities," he says.
Since his transplant, Paul has been returning to the Mater where he now must attend for routine check-ups to ensure that he stays well. He has to take anti-rejection medication to build up his immune system and ensure that his body does not fight against his new organs.
He is aware of the possibility of catching a chest infection, which could be detrimental to his recovery.
"Anything could happen if I didn't mind myself," he says. "Anything is possible. If I got a chest infection it would be really bad because my lungs are weakened by immune suppressants."
He is not allowed to be around crowds for the next six months as his immune system is low while he is being weaned off tablets.
He says the magnitude of the transplant still hasn't sunk in and that even in the Mater hospital they are surprised at his speedy recovery. "They can't believe how quickly I've gotten better," he says.
"I spend two hours on an exercise bike a day and I haven't done that in five or six years."
It's pretty impressive for someone who couldn't even walk through the fields of his family farm a few months ago. His appetite is better again and he says he now loves home- cooked meals.
Although he has received a lung transplant, Paul will still have the digestive problems that cystic fibrosis can cause. While he never suffers from bowel problems he still has to take creon - a combination of lipase, amylase and protease. These are enzymes that a cystic fibrosis sufferer does not have in his or her system, but which are necessary to help digest food.
He will also still have to be careful regarding his lungs.
The association's Godfrey Fletcher says: "From what I understand, once a cystic fibrosis infected lung is gone, the new lung will never have cystic fibrosis again. However, the person could have CF-related infections but it won't affect them as drastically as it would have before."
Cystic fibrosis affects up to 1,100 people in Ireland and that figure is set to rise to 1,335 by 2010, according to Fletcher.
Paul wants to encourage everyone to carry a donor card.
"I can't thank the donor family enough. I don't think I even realise I have these two new lungs inside me, no words can describe it. We are all still in shock," he says.
He looks forward to a future as a part-time farmer with his dad and brothers as he gets older. He used to play hurling for Ballenkillen and can't wait to start back again.
"I couldn't do much in the past three years but I'd like to take up hurling again now," he says.
"I have four brothers on the senior team and they're looking forward to having the fifth one back."