RONAN FAGAN
A truly ‘emotional moment’, Athlone native, Lavinia Connell and her partner Jason Hassett, completed their ascent of the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, to honour the memory of Lavinia’s late brother John, whose organs were donated after his untimely passing 17 years ago.
In completing the 5,895 metres climb, the couple’s self-funded expedition raised funds for the Irish Kidney Association (IKA ), both recently presenting a cheque for €4,396.50 to Carol Moore, Chief Executive, IKA, at Donor House, in Park West, Dublin.
An arduous ascent, Lavinia managed to overcome the altitude sickness which tested her resolve and left her temporarily blind in one eye, in the final hours of her ascent and upon completing the climb, she placed a photo of her late brother John, along with a forget-me-not flower, the IKA emblem, on the summit at Uhuru Peak in Tanzania.
At the cheque presentation, the couple were photographed with a photo of Lavinia’s late brother John and a candle to remind people to have the conversation about organ donation and that over the Christmas all around the country, families of organ donors and grateful transplant recipients will be lighting candles in memory of their loved ones who gave the gift of life to others.
Lavinia works in the Medical Corps at Custume Barracks Athlone and Jason is a Company Sergeant in the Transport Corps at The Curragh. They are both experienced with physical endurance, but never before had they scaled the magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro venturing through four climatic zones from rainforest to moorlands, alpine desert, and in their final climb, the arctic region, and all within seven days.
The couple, who are now back to work, spoke about their unforgettable experience.
“Kilimanjaro was the most amazing experience. Fitness wise it was no problem at all to us, due to our army training everything was easily done. However, the altitude sickness is unpredictable as to who will get it, and although I did everything advised to avoid it, like taking medication and staying hydrated, on summit night I got all the symptoms, and I lost sight in my right eye. That seven-hour summit was very tough. Thankfully my sight has fully returned.
“I honestly believe that my brother John was by my side that night because all of the odds were stacked against me. Placing John’s picture and the forget-me-not flower on the top of Kilimanjaro was such an emotional moment and it will remain with me forever.
“My partner Jason was a wonderful support who was by my side throughout the challenge. We had local guides, organised through travel company Earth’s Edge, who helped us navigate the territory of Mount Kilimanjaro. It was such an amazing twelve-day expedition which included seven days on Kilimanjaro Mountain,” Lavinia said.
Before they set out on their expedition, Lavinia hoped that the trek would increase organ donation public awareness.
“I hope that by doing this climb we can increase organ donor awareness encouraging more people to carry the organ donor card while also raising funds for the IKA. I cannot speak highly enough of the organ donor coordinator that supported our family and gave us the reassurance we needed at a very difficult time after John’s tragic accident,” Lavinia stated.
In a Facebook post Lavinia, a mother of one, explained how just two weeks before her brother John’s passing that her mother, Marie Connell, had overheard her son discussing with his cousin his wish to be an organ donor in the event of his untimely death. John was only 24 years old when he was in a motorbike accident which left him on life support for a week before he succumbed to his injuries.
“Amid our devastating grief, our family honoured his wishes, and the lives of five people were saved and improved by organ transplantation. We received word through the organ donor coordinator that the recipient of John’s heart was the same age as him. In our sadness, it gives our family comfort to know that our hero John’s heart is still beating in someone else and that man now has a wife and children,” Lavinia concluded.
Individuals who wish to support organ donation are encouraged to Share their Wishes and keep the reminders of their decision available by carrying the organ donor card, permitting Code 115 to be included on their driver’s licence or having the ‘digital organ donor card’ App on their smartphone. Organ Donor Cards can be requested by visiting the IKA website www.ika.ie/get-a-donor-card or to your phone, phoning the Irish Kidney Association on 01 6205306 or Free text the word DONOR to 50050.
