THIS Christmas, the Patton family from Letterkenny have one thing on their wish list, a new heart for their father, Seamus.
Seamus (57), who is a Garda Detective in the town, will spend Christmas in Dublin’s Mater Hospital where he is waiting on a life-saving heart transplant.
It’s been a harrowing journey for the Patton family. Seamus has been in the Mater Hospital for almost three months following years of heart complications.
And while he waits on news of a possible transplant, he knows for that to happen, another family must experience the loss of a loved one.
“Sadly, I will never be able to thank the donor personally,” Seamus told the Donegal News.
“I will never be able to give them a hug for the wonderful gift of life that may be passed on.”
In March this year, after a three week assessment, Seamus was deemed suitable for a transplant.
Only last week, the father of five was notified of a possible transplant, but he was not selected for the operation. Now faced with spending Christmas in hospital, the popular Letterkenny man is urging families to have a conversation with their loved ones about organ donation.
“I am not looking for the sun, the moon and the stars,” Seamus told the Donegal News.
“I am just looking forward to leading an active life, playing a bit of golf and spending time with my family.”
Seamus, who is an avid golfer and a valued member of Letterkenny Golf Club, first began experiencing symptoms of tiredness and breathlessness 18 years ago.
Seeking expert advice, Dr Santosh David in Letterkenny identified the need for Mitral Valve Surgery, which he underwent in October 2007 under Dr Mike Toal at Blackrock Clinic in Dublin.
Despite the surgery being a success, he continued to experience palpations.
Four years later, Seamus collapsed while playing golf at Ballybofey/Stranorlar Golf Club, leading to his second heart operation with the fitting of a dual implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (pacemaker).
Returning to an active life following this operation, he experienced a shock from his ICD in October 2022, while on the 8th green at Portsalon Golf Club.
“This hit propelled me off my feet,” he said.
“I thought I had been shot or hit by a golf ball in the chest.
“I was worked on in the ambulance, came round, recovered and carried on living again.”
Then, in April last year, on the 6th green at Letterkenny Golf Club, Seamus silently passed out.
Although the wires in his ICD had become slightly detached over the years, the device was still able to save his life.
This led to him having a new pacemaker fitted.
Shortly after, Seamus travelled to the Cleveland Clinic in London where he underwent an ablation on the left side of his heart, a procedure that couldn’t be performed in Ireland.
He recovered well from this and was taken off medication; however, he had to give up his passion, playing golf.
In January this year, Seamus’ health issues persisted.
He was presented with two choices, either seek an expert opinion on how to fix the leads issue, or consult Professor Emer Joyce at the Mater about a transplant.
“Never had I considered this an option,” Seamus said.
“I met Professor Joyce and her team in February.
“I was put on medication and advised that I could be assessed for transplant.
“After a three week assessment, I was deemed suitable for transplant on March 24, 2025 and was put on the list.”
However, in September, Seamus faced another obstacle when he was admitted to the Mater following an issue with blood results.
Now nearly eight months on the waiting list and hospital bound until his transplant, he says he is just “getting by”.
“I have bad nausea, vomiting and fluid build-up,” Seamus said.
“I’m getting medication infusions, morning and evening, up to four hours in duration.”
Seamus said it is difficult waiting, but he is not prepared to give up on the hope of life.
“I have been given this situation and there are solutions, so you have to believe and trust the process,” he said.
With Christmas just around the corner, Seamus spoke of how hard it is to be away from his family.
Hoping to be discharged from hospital for a few hours on Christmas Day, he plans to join his family for dinner at his son’s home in the capital.
“I don’t see my children for weeks at a time,” he said.
“I only see my wife Katrina at weekends due to work commitments, and the long road that is between the Mater and Donegal.”
“I am staying strong each day in between sickness, in the hope that I will be home with my wife and kids again, picking up my golf clubs and living an active and normal life.”
In a plea to the public, Seamus urged families to have a conversation with their loved ones about organ donation.
“Think carefully, thoughtfully and give serious consideration to organ donation,” he said.
“Organ donation can benefit up to five persons and greatly change the recipient’s life.
“Sadly, I will never be able to thank the donor personally.
“I will never be able to give them a hug for the wonderful gift of life that may be passed on.
“But after the transplant, I hope to return to an active, everyday life, provided everything goes okay.
“I am hoping to get through this phase of my life, get the operation, get recovered and get back to a normal life again.”
Seamus expressed his gratitude to Cardiologist Dr Santosh David, Cathy and Marie at the Heart Failure Unit in Letterkenny, Professor Emer Joyce, the Transplant team at the Mater, and the nurses on the Sacred Heart and CCU wards, praising their daily care and dedication to all patients.
