Johnny Paradise

With a name like Johnny Paradise, one can’t help feeling it was somehow written in the stars that something special would happen. And it did. His decision to donate a kidney to a total stranger was for him a very simple one. For the rest of us, it was astonishing. And for the gravely ill recipient, this supremely selfless decision was life-changing. 

It all started one evening as Johnny watched a TV programme that documented the story of a man who had donated a kidney to another man, who at the time he barely knew. “It was a profound moment in my life that I’ll never forget”, Johnny recalls, “and ultimately one that helped me in making my own decision to do the same thing.” 

It left me questioning my own contribution to the world."

As this Business Studies graduate watched, in complete amazement, he says he couldn’t think of anything that he had ever come across that was as kind, selfless, rewarding and human. “This single act alone, for me, represented all that is great about people” he says “and served as a reminder of the wonderful things that happen every day.” 

More importantly, he says, “It left me questioning my own contribution to the world, reminded of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. when he said ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?’, those words echoed in my head.” 

Having not slept much that night, the next morning Johnny, who was living in Limerick at the time, made contact with Belfast City Hospital. There, he was put in touch with one of their transplant coordinators and was sent a pack which included a DVD amongst other materials, which answered some of the bigger questions. Johnny says “Once I had digested that, I was invited to meet with them to discuss everything and again, to answer any questions I had.” 

Exciting 

“If I’m being honest” he says “it was quite an exciting time for me, as strange as that might sound.” Exciting knowing that there was someone out there who was very sick, who had no idea what was potentially about to happen until they received a phone call to say that a healthy (hopefully!) kidney was awaiting them, a life-changing moment. 

The next step was for Johnny to undergo the rigorous testing, which in total lasted almost a full day. While it was a long day (especially considering Johnny had driven 250 miles from Limerick to get there), the testing itself was all quite relaxed and never at any time was it painful or even uncomfortable for him, he says. 

Many people were telling me I was out of my mind to even be considering this” 

Two weeks later, he was invited to meet with the hospital’s clinical psychologist as the next step in the process. “Despite many people telling me I was out of my mind to even be considering this” Johnny admits, “the psychologist found that I was, in fact, of sound mind and should be allowed to continue along in the process.” 

All in all, it was about nine months from when Johnny first made contact with the hospital to when he was in theatre having his left kidney harvested by the surgical team in October 2014. He adds “At no time did I ever feel under any pressure to do what I was doing and right up to the morning of the procedure, I could have decided I didn’t want to go ahead with it.” However, he was adamant it was what he wanted to do and he would have been left bitterly disappointed if he had been stopped, for whatever reason. 

Quality of life 

Just four years earlier, Johnny had graduated from UL (2010), following which he spent three-and-a-half years in New York City where he studied for a Masters and also worked. “A special mention”, he points out “must go to Mary Sweeney who was Head of Careers in UL at the time for pushing me to apply for the scholarship that made all of that possible”. He returned to Limerick in 2013 and spent three years working with Northern Trust, before deciding to relocate to Dublin four years ago. Today he works in sales with HSBC in the Securities Services side of the business, a role that he really enjoys, though not without its challenges. “Overall, I’m very fortunate to have a high quality of life” Johnny says “and I look forward to what the future holds, even now during what is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone.” 

Reflections 

It is now exactly six years since Johnny Paradise donated a kidney to a man in desperate need and he is happy to report “it had the desired effect and this man’s grave illness is now just a memory for him and his family.” 

Johnny reveals that his incredible act of kindness is not something he thinks about much these days. However, he does add, “Sadly, we are all exposed to a constant stream of negative news, so I encourage the spreading of good news stories to remind ourselves that there are really good things happening too.” 

When Johnny does stop to reflect on what he has done, he says it is something that still lifts his own spirits and he hopes that it lifts other people’s spirits too. 

I feel as lucky as the recipient.” 

A few weeks before he underwent the surgery, Johnny had been chatting to a friend about his decision to donate. She showed him a quote that dates back to the 1600s: “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you”. Johnny says “This quote really captured my feelings beautifully.” 

He continues “While I never believed nor do I believe now that I am owed anything, the ability to have been able to gift someone with another chance, is something I will always treasure. I feel as lucky as the recipient.” 

When asked if he has any regrets, Johnny answers truthfully with “Of course, but just one. I regret that I didn’t do it sooner”. 

I have always believed that if you have the capacity to help someone who needs it, then you should at least try.” 

And while this may have seemed like the end of the journey for Johnny, in reality, it was only the beginning. This decision, he says, changed his life immeasurably for the better and has given him a view on life that he could have never achieved without it. 

“Small acts of kindness have a profoundly positive impact on the world,” Johnny adds, “don’t ever settle for the misbelief that you can’t make a difference; you really can. I would encourage people to pay it forward, today.” 

He concludes “I have always believed that if you have the capacity to help someone who needs it, then you should at least try.”