Northern Ireland

Powerful exhibition ‘The Call’ arrives in Belfast to raise awareness of paediatric organ donation

An image of Dáithí Mac Gabhann was unveiled at the exhibition on Friday

Organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann helps launch the "The Call" photographic exhibition in Belfasts 2 Royal Avenue. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann helps launch the "The Call" photographic exhibition in Belfasts 2 Royal Avenue. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
By Suzanne McGonagle

An emotive exhibition featuring children waiting for the phone call that could potentially change their lives has been unveiled in Belfast.

Entitled ‘The Call’, the photographic exhibition has been brought to Northern Ireland by the Public Health Agency so that Dáithí Mac Gabhann from west Belfast could be featured.

The images, captured by photographer Debbie Todd, focus on paediatric organ donation and were created for a display by the Red Sky Foundation, a charity raising funds for people with heart conditions and in need of cardiac care.

To mark the first anniversary of the change in law, the image of Dáithí was unveiled at the exhibition at 2 Royal Avenue on Friday.

A photographic exhibition ‘The Call’ arrives in Belfast to raise awareness of peadiatric organ donation, pictured are Daithi his father Mairtin and photographer Debbie Todd. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Dáithí and Máirtín Mac Gabhann with photographer Debbie Todd. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN

He was captured holding a symbolic red telephone in his home city.

It is one of a number of powerful images depicting that while some children sit patiently waiting for the phone call that could save their lives, others have already had their prayers answered offering a life-saving donor organ.

Figures show there were just 35 paediatric donations in the last year in the UK.

Ms Todd said she hoped the photographs will “encourage the many people who see them to discuss whether they would accept a donated organ to save their child”.

“And, if so, would they give the gift of life to another child?,” she said.

A photographic exhibition ‘The Call’ arrives in Belfast to raise awareness of peadiatric organ donation. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
A photographic exhibition ‘The Call’ arrives in Belfast to raise awareness of peadiatric organ donation. It runs for two weeks. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN

Máirtín Mac Gabhann said they were “incredibly proud” that Dáithí is part of the exhibition and their “family eagerly hopes for the day we receive that life-changing call”.

Aidan Dawson from the PHA added: “The conversations generated by this exhibition will help to open up the sensitive topic of paediatric organ donation, and aims to encourage families to consider registering decisions for the whole family”.

Photographer Debbie Todd and Sergio Petrucci from the Red Sky Foundation raises vital funds to support life saving work for babies, children and adults who are born with or who develop heart conditions at the exhibition in 2 Royal Avenue, Belfast. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN
Photographer Debbie Todd and Sergio Petrucci from the Red Sky Foundation, which raises vital funds to support life saving work for babies, children and adults who are born with or who develop heart conditions.. PICTURE: MAL MCCANN