Kidney fund considers child needs

The Punchestown Kidney Research Fund is looking at a proposal to provide a special teacher to help renal patients in Temple Street Childrens Hospital.

"The problem is that children born with a kidney problem are fed through a tube for the first three years of their lives," says James Nolan of Kilcullen, a prime mover behind the PKRF, pictured below accepting a cheque from Teresa Meaney of the Mini Marathon proceeds last year.



"One result of this is that they never learn what it is to want food, and they also don't learn to speak properly. Then they might get a transplant when they are three, and have to adapt to a normal life, they have a lot of difficulties."

James says the hospital has been looking to the health board for funding for a special teacher for these children for the last five years or more, but without success.

"So we have asked them to put a proposal to us indicating costs and other criteria," he says.

Money raised in the past by the fund has been used to help improve the quality of life of dialysis patients who spend several days each week hooked up to machines that clean their blood, and also in the provision of a holiday home for dialysis patients and their families in Kerry.

They have also been exploring the possibility of providing a portable dialysis unit, but that doesn't seem to be imminent, says James, who is himself a successful example of a recipient of a kidney transplant.

"Each year we work towards a number of projects, and the Temple Street Hospital one is the latest."

The primary funding for the PKRF comes from a special charity race at the Punchestown Festival, inaugurated by James Nolan. He believes that this year's event will see the million-euros barrier breached.

Brian Byrne.