Olympic relay joy for transplant duo

The Eglinton woman will be one of the Olympic relay runners to transport the flame between Londonderry and Newry on Tuesday, March 5.

It was a year ago on March 9 that Robert Smyth received a kidney from his daughter, alleviating him of years of ill health and dialysis, and as a mark of respect for the life-altering gesture, he nominated Illona to take part in the Olypic Torch Relay, not knowing whether or not his application would be successful. Just prior to Christmas, however, Robert learned that Iilona had received a conditional offer to take part in the relay, but the family was sworn to secrecy. She is just one of 6,800 people across the UK to have the honour bestowed on them out of an application field of over 250,000 applicants. She will carry the Olympic Torch through Strabane.

“When my Dad mentioned nominating me as an Olympic Torchbearer, I though I had little chance of becoming one. Especially when I read that there was such a high demand for places, that there had to be a lottery held in the first instance. I got past the lottery and finally ended up receiving (as did others) a provisional offer, which depended upon my fulfilling certain other criteria, before any final decision was made,” said Iilona.

“Ironically, I happened to be in London with my Mum on the morning the offers were made. On the early morning news the information flashed up about the the nominee letters arriving that very day,” she said, adding: “I thought little about it until I rang home and my Dad told me the excellent news. Actually I jumped up with excitement in the hotel lobby. I was thrilled for this unique opportunity to take part. So, although I knew this news from December 9 last year, the instructions received were not to discuss this with the Press until being finally approved in March.”

Iilona sees the relay as an opportunity to fly the flag for organ donation: “This, I feel, is another victory for the cause of organ donation. It will provide another opportunity to highlight the constant need for both living and deceased donors. Carry the donor card with you always as it may provide a possibility for another to have life. My Dad’s cousin needed a heart transplant and was being treated at the Newcastle Specialised Hospital, but he never received an organ and died leaving a wife and four daughters. The entire Country is filled with people in such need for a variety of organs.

“As a donor myself it gives me a wonderful feeling of making a personal valuable contribution to another. My health is great. I know I have made a significant difference in the life of my Dad and no one can take that from me. I mention this by way of encouragement to those who may be wavering about such a decision,” she said, adding: “If, then, you are reading this article you will know that I passed the final hurdle and have been accepted as an Olympic Torchbearer, hopefully representing all donors and those who choose to become donors, and the patients who wait and wait in hope.”

Understandably proud of his daughter, Robert said it had been hinted to him that he should put his own name forward, but asked himself ‘what have I done to warrant such an honour?’

“The answer was short and simple, nothing! Yes, I had been the recipient of a life-saving and life extending, Kidney Transplant, but it was my daughter that was the heroine and certainly not me,” he said saying this was his motivation.

“As I thought about what I might write in supporting her application, I reflected on the role of heroes and heroines in life. Generally, people in these categories are often faced with a situation which requires an instant response. The result of which may well qualify them to be considered a hero or heroine, depending upon their action.

“In Iilona’s circumstance the decision to act was a much more deliberate and considered response. She had months to think about all the ramifications of her decision, to become a living donor for her father. She knew such a course of action carried certain risks. No surgery, or indeed, anaesthesia, is totally risk free however minor. She was a young married mother with three children to be considered, apart from being a wife. Yet without hesitation she stepped up to the mark when four other potential donors had been medically rejected,” he said.

“Her decision to donate and mine to accept such, was not always greeted by universal approval. I was often castigated for being totally selfish to put my daughter at risk, just to give me a better quality life for my few remaining years. Of-course I had considered these matters in minute detail as had Iilona. As a Christian family we had not only contemplated the serious issues involved, but had also made the decision a matter of ongoing prayer. We believe that prayers are answered in a variety of ways. In this matter we both felt very comfortable and knew it was right to proceed on the basis of faith, in addition to Iilona’s totally selfless act of pure love.

The transplant was totally successful for both Robert and Iilona, and she has suffered no ill effects from her courageous action to ‘safe a life.’

The story of Iilona’s selfless act has helped highlight the urgent need for living and deceased donors, for all types of organ donations, said Robert, adding: “Many have caught the vision and responded positively and the need for such life-savers has been constantly in the press ever since. It has been all good news not simply for us but many many others. Obviously the Olympic Scrutinizing Committee agreed as Iilona was chosen out of tens upon tens of thousands who applied. So why not consider ‘saving a life today?’ Nothing will bring you deeper inner satisfaction.”