The deaths of young jockey Michael O Sullivan and boxer John Cooney both aged in their 20s has rocked the Irish sporting world in recent weeks. Michael O Sullivan will be buried this afternoon. Both men were taken far too early from their families.
The families decided in the aftermath of both men passing away that there organs would be donated to help other people and families in there hour of need. This particular thing rings through for yours truly as we made the same decision as a family when my Mam passed away in 2016.
My Mam’s organs were donated to people whose lives were altered in there hour of need while we as a family tried to make sense of it all. We didn’t hesitate as a family to make the decision to allow the organ donation take place.
We knew Mam took an organ donor card around in her bag but of course we could not find that particular one but after some looking around the house we found multiple signed cards to suggest that in the event of her passing away at some point this is what she wanted to happen.
The events of the past 2 weeks have brought that decision back freshly into my mind and the courage it takes to say yes to organ donation and while you may say yes straight away when asked the question when the pressure isn’t on, It is a whole different ball game when your under stress.
As a family all we wanted was written confirmation from Mam to allow help us make a more informed decision even though when Dad asked us, myself and Fionn didn’t hesitate in agreeing to this request.
The regulations in Ireland have been changed in recent years around organ donation so it is now an opt out situation rather than an opt in one. Of course this can be looked into at the family’s request. It is amazing to think somewhere in Ireland my mother‘s organs are helping someone go about their daily routine.
It truly is a selfless act that is a lastly legacy for someone to leave behind as a parting gift. It allows the precipitant to get life back on track after time recovering from the major operation. I often think of the legacy Mam left behind and smile as we were in a position as a family to help make her wishes come through.
Her selfless act has come to mind in the aftermath of the unfortunate deaths of both John Cooney and Michael O Sullivan as both of their families made the same selfless decision as we did back in 2016. Not an easy decision to make but a very rewarding one that will mean the precipitants of their organs will have the chance to go on living.
My thoughts are with the families of both John Cooney and Michael O Sullivan over the past few weeks. The support of family and friends will help them through the next while. Thinking of all in the Irish racing community today as Michael O Sullivan is laid to rest….