Little Sadhbh Browne is among hundreds of children and adults who are desperate for a lifesaving transplant.

Sadhbh (4), from Mountbellew, Co Galway, has been on the transplant list for a new liver since last summer and her parents Deirdre and Patrick are living in hope of getting a matching organ soon.

The family was among a gathering at the Mansion House in Dublin at the launch of Organ Donor Awareness Week, where a special plea was made to be mindful of the generous relatives of donors.

Mary Verbruggan, from Oughterard, Co Galway, who has been a diabetic since her teens, had a living donor kidney transplant over a year ago.

She received the organ from her brother Tom and is now on the waiting list for a pancreatic transplant.

If he had not shown such kindness, his sister may have run out of time due to her unusual blood group.

But she reminded everyone that behind the emotional story and gift of transplant surgery, the families of donors can sometimes be forgotten.

In her case, it was her sister-in-law Ashling who was the quiet hero.

“Tom’s wife Ashling gave me and my children huge support,” she told the gathering, which also included the loved ones of donors.

Also among the gathering was the Wyse family from Lanesborough, Co Longford, whose late brother Ruairi (37) saved five lives through donation of his organs.

He died after he suffered a fatal aneurysm.

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