Three Year old Olly Urgently needs a Kidney Donor

Parents of a three year old Newry child have issued a plea to the public to help their son Olly who is in desperate need of a kidney transplant. 

Dionne & Neil Cartmill have taken to social media to appeal for a living kidney donor to come forward. Many of their family members have already come forward to get checked for suitability but to date a match hasn't been found.

Olly was born on St Stephen's Day 2019 and has been on dialysis since mid 2021 although his mother explains "despite being on dialysis and being heavily fluid restricted, he’s the light of our lives and is just trying so hard to be a normal wee boy."

Their Consultants and medical team have told then he needs a Kidney Transplant immediately and the couple have embarked on a public campaign to try and find a match. Dionne adds "As a naturally private family it’s difficult for us to go public and make this plea on Social Media but we are left with no other option as time is running out for our little fighter!"

A kidney is the most commonly donated organ by a living person. A healthy person can lead a normal life with only one functioning kidney and therefore they are able to donate the other to help someone in need of a kidney transplant.

Olly can receive a kidney transplant from any adult who is a match for him but time is running out. If you can help Olly please contact the Belfast City Hospital, Living Donor Co-ordinator: T: 028 95 043 872 between the hours of 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday and reference Olly Cartmill as the donor recipient.

"Please think about becoming a life-saver and have that family conversation about Organ Donation - we all have it in us to become a life-saver." adds Dionne.