Environmental scientist Karol Donnelly didn’t even know she would be getting a new liver when she went into St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin, in March 2006, but complications during surgery led to her getting an urgent transplant. When she woke up from her surgery, she discovered she had a new liver – “a life-altering experience”, she says.

But now she’s back enjoying life to the full, and this year even took part in this year’s Flora Mini-Marathon, and has plans for more sporting challenges in the months and years ahead.

“I set up the website www.liverireland.com purely to raise awareness of the issues surrounding liver transplantation, and also to tell others that you can live a full and active life after transplantation. I have enjoyed great times since getting my transplant last year, and I am getting healthier and stronger all the time,” says Karol, a native of Ballina who now lives in Castlebar.

“In the months after my transplant, I yearned for information about transplantation, and I hope my site will be helpful to pending recipients, transplant recipients, families and friends. I have had a lot of enquiries already. If it makes just a small difference to just a few lives, then, for me, it will be a complete success.”

Karol says she is planning some further athletic challenges in the future.

“It is so important to send out the message of how vital it is to carry a donor card. I am alive today thanks to a liver being donated to me. Now all my friends and family carry donor cards. The gift of life is so special, it should be passed on,” she adds.

“My liver transplant was a life-altering event. Organ transplantation result in a huge emotional challenge for the recipient , and their family and friends.”

Ireland is honoured next Saturday (October 13th) with the hosting the 9th European Day for Organ Donation and Transplantation, which will see President Mary McAleese open a key conference at the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire.

Representatives from 46 nations will be present for the event, and the line-up of speakers includes Dr David Hickey, Consultant Renal Transplant Surgeon, at Beaumount Hospital, Dublin, who has performed many of the kidney transplants in Ireland.

A ‘Walk for Life’ will take place on Dun Laoghaire Pier on Saturday evening at 5o’c when 234 balloons will be released to mark the number of people who benefitted from life-saving transplants last year.