Hi Folks,
It is my privilege to be the chair of the Children’s Kidney Fund NI and to welcome you to take a look at the facilities, services and opportunities we support for families across NI who have a child with renal disease.
As one of the founders of the charity, which was established in 1999, we are proud of our ongoing contributions to children with renal conditions, transplant patients, dialysis patients and their families.
Our contribution has only been possible through the commitment of a small group of volunteers who have experienced kidney disease in their own family or who are health care professionals who continue to provide expertise, support and encouragement outside of their working commitments. To these people I will be forever grateful. Our charity is a brilliant example of how the sum of all of the parts makes the impossible possible.
We have supported the children’s transplant games team from our inception, and we appreciate the contributions made by those who have worn, washed or watched a team tee shirt – we see the transplant games as the best advert for life after transplant and a remarkable milestone on the journey to better health for our sick children.
I personally got involved because I wanted to give something back for the exemplary care and attention afforded to my son when he presented with renal disease over 30 years ago. A contribution has turned into a passion, and I relish every opportunity I get to support in any way the families who are experiencing the trials and tribulations of having a sick child through kidney disease. In those 30 years my son has now had three kidney transplants, he has married and has two kids of his own. I have donated a kidney to a complete stranger so that my son could get his third transplant – I was so fortunate to be fit and well enough to be able to donate.
My message to the families who are waiting for a donor kidney is, there is a solution to most problems, there are some remarkable stories of success over adversity within our own group and any opportunity to share your experience with another family who has experienced the same challenges will make their problem more tolerable. In these circumstances I encourage those families to remain optimistic, out of despair comes hope. Remain positive, that will also aid recovery.
We are blessed with an amazing renal team in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, and we have all experienced first-hand their commitment, resilience and dedication, even in adversity – their support, knowledge and humanity has made them friends as well as health care professionals in all our lives. Without their contribution the charity would not have survived, nor could it exist.
We want this web site to be a celebration of all of our successes as a charity, we want to attract donations from across the community here in NI and our promise to you is that we will deploy our best efforts at all times to further the voice of the sick and to highlight the benefits of organ donation and transplantation and how it should be the first choice for everyone who can provide life for others after their death.
Best regards
Keith Smith