Teacher Niamh to run marathon after friend receives life-saving transplant

AN OLD Bawn teacher will run the Dublin Marathon this month to raise funds for the Irish Kidney association, eight years after her best friend received a life-saving transplant.

Every day, when the clock struck 11:11, biology teacher from Tallaght, Niamh Foran would wish for her friend, Edel Cashman, to receive a call and get a much-needed transplant.

The wish was granted on October 22, 2018 and the same ‘angel numbers’ will be present on the day of the marathon, Sunday, October 25, when Niamh lines up for the challenge with a matching 11:11 tattoo that she shares with Edel.

Niamh noted that the experience with her friend’s organ donation gave it a “personal meaning” that cannot be taught.

Niamh said: “I teach my students about human anatomy, including organs and how important they are to the body, but Edel’s story has given organ donation a very personal meaning for me.

“When you see what an organ transplant can mean to someone’s life, it brings the science home in a very different way.”

Edel had spent 22 months on the transplant waiting list before she received the call, and before being placed on the list, she had suffered a serious bout of sepsis in Autumn 2016 that left her critically ill and in an induced coma.

After recovering from sepsis, medics had warned her about the symptoms to look out for and stressed the importance of going straight to hospital if they returned. It was from this point that Niamh began her daily 11:11 ritual.

One incident saw Edel in St Vincent’s Hospital overnight after she became extremely unwell, and  Niamh stayed with her throughout.

Niamh then decided to make the significance of 11:11 permanent and had matching 11:11 bracelets made for the two of them and booked a tattoo appointment.

Remarkably, just two hours before Edel got the call for her transplant, Niamh picked up the engraved bracelets from the jewellers.

Edel said: “When Niamh came to see me after my transplant with the bracelets, it was very emotional.

“I knew about the 11:11 and she used to send me the screenshots every day, but I didn’t realise that her wish every single time was for me to get the call. Then the bracelets arrived a couple hours before I got it. It became something very special between us.”

Niamh has been running for two years and completed the Dublin Half Marathon in September as part of her preparation for the full 26.2-mile challenge this month.

She will be joined by her boyfriend of 10 years, Daniel, who will also be running his first marathon.

Over €1,000 has been raised for the Irish Kidney Association through Niamh’s efforts so far.

Niamh chose to fundraise for the Irish Kidney Association because of its work promoting organ donation and transplantation through the Organ Donor Card, while also supporting people living with kidney disease and their families.

Both friends are passionate about encouraging people to consider becoming organ donors and giving others the chance of a second chance at life.

To donate, visit Niamh Foran’s fundraising page on eventmaster.ie.