Home dialysis advantages demonstrated

A presentation on how home dialysis can help people with failed kidneys live a more normal family and working life was made last night at the home of Padraig and Liz Maloney, Castlemartin, writes Brian Byrne.

The occasion was also a reminder of the importance of the Diageo Charity Race at the Punchestown Festival in the summer, which has raised more than €1.1m for the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund over 21 years. The race was founded by James Nolan of Kilcullen.

Padraig Maloney lived successfully with a transplanted kidney for 18 years until three years ago, when he had to return to dialysis again. He has had a home dialysis machine since last September.

Pictured are Jean Doyle, Diageo Ireland; Iona Daly, jockey; Anthony Flanagan, jockey; Padraig Moloney, dialysis patient; Liz Moloney; Sonia Tracey, dialysis patient; James Nolan, kidney transplant; Noel Clare; and Anne-Marie Molloy, PKRF race coordinator.

The full story will be published in next Tuesday's Kildare Nationalist.