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18th September 2018
06:39pm BST
Over 2,000 people have requested organ donor cards following last night's RTE documentary, Orla Tinsley: Warrior - an astonishing increase of over 10,000%.
The Irish Kidney Association tweeted:
'Just over 2000 individual organ donor card requests received as a direct result of the programme about @orlatinsley's story and the follow up piece on @ClaireByrneLive.'
Just over 2000 individual organ donor card requests received as a direct result of the programme about @orlatinsley's story and the follow up piece on @ClaireByrneLive. #Inspiring #LifeChanging To request your organ donor card: https://t.co/asD0LkorQ9 #OrganDonationConversation pic.twitter.com/gvitBpp3Gd
— Irish Kidney Association (@IrishKidneyAs) September 18, 2018
Orla herself took to Twitter today to celebrate the upsurge in requests and thank everyone for their support.
She wrote:
'Last night 2,000 people requested organ donor cards, an increase of 10,000 percent, says @IrishKidneyAs Some requested more than one card.
'Thank you. This will save and change lives. Organ donation is the ultimate legacy anyone can leave. #ThankYou #Organdonation #Warrior'
The documentary chronicled Orla Tinsley's journey as she waited for a double lung transplant list after a 31-year battle with cystic fibrosis.
The powerful documentary received a huge reaction online, with #organdonation trending all over Ireland.
How cool is that?! #organdonation was trending in Ireland tonight! Thank you to @orlatinsley for the inspiration and for encouraging the #OrganDonationConversation . To request your organ donor card: https://t.co/asD0LkorQ9 pic.twitter.com/mZTnaGonxx
— Irish Kidney Association (@IrishKidneyAs) September 18, 2018
If you become an organ donor, it means that your healthy organs can be transplanted into another person to replace their unhealthy organs.
Organs most suitable for donation are the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and pancreas.
While most organs are donated after death, a "living donor" can donate a kidney and continue to live a healthy life. A living donor must give informed consent.
There's two ways to become an organ donor - by carrying an organ donor card, or by noting your wish to be an organ donor on your driver's license.
It also helps to tell your family that this is your wish.
If you have a medical condition, you can still opt to become a donor and medical teams will assess the suitability of each organ on a case-by-case basis.
One of peoples' biggest fears about organ donation is having their loved ones' bodies disturbed - but it's important to note that the removal of organs after death is carried out just like any other surgical procedure and does not disfigure the body or delay funeral arrangements.
To apply for a donor card, head here.
To watch Orla Tinsley: Warrior, head here.
