Loving father who donated kidney to his daughter, 6, to contest Great Limerick Run

A BRAVE and loving father who donated one of his kidneys to his six-year-old daughter is taking part in the Regeneron Great Limerick Run.

The worlds of Jonathan Tully, 36, and his partner Donna Leo, 32, both from the city, were rocked when their first daughter Harmony, now six, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.

Now, Jonathan – who played rugby for Richmond RFC – and Harmony’s elder brother Kyron, 10, will hit the city streets to raise money for the Irish Kidney Association.

They also want to raise the profile of Organ Donor Awareness Week, which takes place between May 16 and May 23 and highlights the potentially life-changing impact of a donation.

When Harmony arrived into the world on December 27, 2019, her kidneys were undeveloped, meaning they could not function properly.

She was rushed to Crumlin Children’s Hospital, and from that moment on, hospital care became a constant part of the family’s reality.

As she grew, the little girl needed increasingly complex treatment and began home dialysis by the age of three.

She would then spend up to 10 hours every night connected to a machine that kept her alive.

This continued for over a year and in 2024 she underwent major surgery where both of her kidneys were removed in preparation for a transplant.

It was an easy choice for Jonathan, who works as a security guard at University Hospital Limerick, to step in.

Support Jonathan and Kyron at: www.idonate.ie/donnaleo

ADVERTISEMENT – CONTINUE READING BELOW

Tags: