Its been 25 years this year since Kay Duffy OBE founded the Liver Support Group. And to recognise this wonderful achievement the Group held a gala event attended by almost 300 guests which included transplanted patients and their families.  Joining Robin Swann, former NI Health Minister, were senior medical staff from Kings London and Birmingham’s Children Hospital as well as our own highly valued liver unit consultants and nursing staff from the Regional Liver Unit at the RVH.

The RVH Liver Support Group was originally  founded to offer all kinds of support to any person, young or old, who suffers from any type of liver condition irrespective of cause within N Ireland. And this same level of support is offered today. A committee of eight volunteers provide the Group with all of the requisite qualities to effectively manage the Charity and, within, there are three adult patient carers and two child/adolescent patient carers.  These carers offer confidential telephone or face to face support to patients and/or their carers on a daily basis.

This is Ryan Caughey, father to Dylan who was recently transplanted due to being diagnosed at birth with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD). This is a rare metabolic condition which causes sufferers to be intolerant of many proteins.

The condition meant many visits to the Royal Victoria Hospital and the condition was so debilitating that Dylan was on a heavily restricted diet for most of his life.

After being put on the transplant list in 2016 he received his new liver in 2019. The transplant was a success and four years after receiving his liver, 19-year-old Dylan hasn’t needed any hospital treatment.

And if that wasn’t great enough news in itself the family learned that Dylan’s liver, which didn’t function for him, was transplanted to another patient.

Ryan wanted to give something back for the care and support that he and his family had received and he decided to do a sponsored trek to Everest Base Camp and that’s exactly what he has achieved. We received this picture of him today (13/03/2023) at Base Camp proudly holding up our banner.

As a charity we would like to thank Ryan so much for his support and for putting us on top of the world.

“Noah’s Ark Parent and Toddlers Group in Kilkeel Presbyterian Church organised a pre-Christmas Craft Fair, in support of local charities.  Benefitting this year was the RVH Liver Support Group and the local RNLI team in the town.  Liver Support Group Chairman, Jim Kilpatrick, gratefully received a cheque for £675 from Lynda Curran, one of the Toddlers Group committee, and mother of our transplanted member Rachel Chambers.  Our thanks go to the Group and the Minister, Rev. Stephen Johnston for their hospitality and generosity.”

Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF) is running a webinar on January 26th for those heading back to, or first time to, college.. The webinar will discuss things from the use of UCAS forms right through to filling in job application forms.

You can book a space directly at youngpeople@childliverdisease.org or, find further information by clicking on this link below:-

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=547462024087169&substory_index=0&id=100064701275212

Do you remember the post we put up about Damien running the Loch Ness Marathon in September of this year? Well he did it and raised a staggering sum of money to be distributed among three charities; one of which is the RVH Liver Support Group.

Mairead, Damien’s wife, received a life saving liver transplant approx five years ago and Damien wanted to give something back. Well, he has, by way of a donation amounting to £3885.45. We would like to thank him most sincerely for this and we hope that Mairead continues to do well.

Thankfully, after an enforced break due to Covid, we were able to revisit King’s once again in November, to renew acquaintances, establish new relationships and provide the staff there with updates on the Group as of 2022.

Kay and Jim spent four very full and rewarding days in London, during which they reviewed some of the accommodation used by patients and carers when they go for treatment – a very worthwhile exercise which allowed them to consider distances and travel options and times to King’s, and the availability of dining and other options nearby.

Considerable time was spent each day meeting with the transplant coordinators, consultants, surgeons, Todd Ward staff and others whom patients and carers might encounter during their time in King’s.  A meeting with some of the committee members from the LISTEN patient support group in King’s was most welcome, and much was learned on both sides around patient care, particularly concerning those patients from Northern Ireland.

Kay and Jim were also fortunate to be able to spend some time with a local patient who had been transplanted immediately before their visit, as well as his partner, and to call in with another local man who had returned to King’s for a post-transplant procedure.

Much was gained during the visit, thanks in no small way to the fantastic support provided by King’s Senior Social Worker, Paul McKie, and we look forward to being able to return again later in 2023.

Committee members of the Liver Support Group have been out recently gathering up lots of pressies to make up hampers for the child, adolescent and adult liver patients who are currently in hospital. They have all been delivered over the past few days to the wards and we would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of those involved in “Operation Santa” !!