I've had miracle gift of a second kidney swap op

Paddy tells of guilt at transplant ... but joy and relief at its success

- LOUISE WALSH

A RECIPIENT of a second kidney transplant had almost given up hope before he got the miracle phone call about a suitable organ.

But now Paddy Cox says he struggles with guilt thinking about the donor's family who are going through the worst pain they will ever feel”.

He is calling for awareness about the feelings transplant recipients go through as well as the side effects of dialysis.

During his illness, the 35-year-old from Castlecomer in Kilkenny created Dialize.

The unisex clothing range includes half-zip tops with multiple openings that facilitate IV or PICC lines used in dialysis and chemotherapy.

Paddy revealed he was so overcome by the success of the operation, he hugged the first bag of urine he produced after his transplant and still celebrates every time he uses the toilet.

However, he still has to be careful of infection until antibodies build back up in his system after last month's surgery.

Paddy said: "I've to be minded like a newborn now.

"Surgeons basically flatlined all my cells so I'm really open to infection right now while they slowly build back up.” Paddy had a kidney transplant in 2008 but had to go back on dialysis when it failed five years ago.